april/may 2014 ctc.org.uk {£3} FREE to ctc members
This issue c e l t i c cross coun try
the magazine of ctc The national cycling charity
ctc’s top c ycling c a fé s space
CTC’s top cycling cafés
for c ycling roa d
Road bikes with discs
bik e s w ith discs spa steel tour ing bik e
celtic cross country Off-road trails in Exmoor & Wales
april/May 2014 ctc.org.uk
Founded in 1878
INSIDE: Space for cycling office panniers
Giro’s N.I. legacy
spa steel touring bike
Membership
Ap ril/M ay 2 014
Get five years CTC membership for the price of four. Details on p86
The magazine of the Cyclists’ Touring club
Cycle promotes the work of CTC. Cycle’s circulation is approx. 51,000. CTC is one of the UK’s largest cycling membership organisations, with 67,000 members and affiliates CTC Patron: Her Majesty the Queen President: Jon Snow CTC Council Chair: David Cox Chief Executive: Gordon Seabright Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC) a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England No 25185, registered as a charity in England and Wales Charity No 1147607 and in Scotland No SC042541. Registered office: Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX. Cycle Magazine Editor: Dan Joyce e: editor@ctc.org.uk Designers: Nicky Gotobed, Simon Goddard Advertising: Anna Vassallo tel: 020 7079 9365 e: annav@jppublishing.co.uk Creative Director: James Houston Publisher: James Pembroke Cycle is published six times per year on behalf of CTC by James Pembroke Publishing, 90 Walcot Street, Bath, BA1 5BG. Tel: 01225 337777. Cycle is copyright CTC, James Pembroke Publishing and individual contributors. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission from CTC and James Pembroke Publishing is forbidden. Views expressed in the magazine are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the policies of CTC. Advertising bookings are subject to availability, the terms and conditions of James Pembroke Publishing, and final approval by CTC. Printed by Precision Colour Printing Haldane, Halesfield 1 Telford, TF7 4QQ. Tel: 01952 585585 Cover: bridleway at Hawkcombe Head on Porlock Common, Exmoor. By Seb Rogers
{ F R O M }
THE EDITOR
you can keep. Likewise the wrap the size of pocket square, containing only salad and tiny bits of protein. Like most cyclists, I suppose, when I get off my bike and go into a café, I want carbohydrates. And, having spent a couple of hours or more burning calories, I want them right there, right then. Beans on toast maybe, or a piece of cake so large that gravity will help draw my fork towards it. That and strong coffee. Simple fare, generous portions. It’s not just about refuelling, of course. You want somewhere you can park your bike safely. You want service with a smile. And you want other cyclists around so that you feel welcome, and so you can have a chat even if you came in alone. I guess some cyclists will want cycling paraphernalia in the café too. Or perhaps a bike shop or workshop attached? Not having been in such a café, I can’t comment – except to say that if the atmosphere is cyclingfriendly and the menu is still effective at offsetting a proper calorie deficit, it all sounds fine. I was going to add ‘location’ as a prerequisite for a good café. The café must be reachable by your ride – ideally when you feel like stopping. And if you’re riding off-road, the café does need to be pretty close. When you’re riding on road, however, your catchment area for cafés is much larger. If the café is good, you’ll choose to ride out to it. Why? Because it’s there.
the skinny latte
34 41
every issue 5 News
CTC’s analysis of the cycling news
10 Campaigns comment
this issue 16 CTC AGM Agenda
Motions for the meeting in Glasgow
34 Celtic cross country
Safety updates on lorries and London junctions
Off-road trails in Exmoor and Wales
12 Events news
41 In the pink?
Recent and upcoming cycling events
18 Gear up
Components, kit and accessories on test
25 Letters
Can the Giro d’Italia catalyse cycling in Northern Ireland?
44 Game plan for Glasgow
Your feedback on Cycle and cycling
Commonwealth Games-themed rides that you can do after CTC’s AGM
28 My bike
48 Café to café
Dave Ramsden’s home-built clunker
What makes a good cyclists’ café?
30 CTC & Me
54 Way out west
64 Q&A
58 Space for cycling
Cycle campaigner Tom McClelland, RIP Your technical, health and legal questions answered
86 CTC member benefits
Touring in Utah’s Canyonlands Find out about CTC’s new campaign
68 Disc-brake road bikes
Special offers for CTC members
Whyte Suffolk and Genesis Equilibrium Disc on test
89 Travellers’ Tales
77 Spa Steel Touring bike
91 CTC Cycling Holidays
81 Briefcase panniers
Let us take you there
54
Contents
CTC members’ ride reports
D AN
Benji Haworth, Paul Lloyd, iStockphoto.com
CTC, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX E: cycling@ctc.org.uk W: ctc.org.uk T: 0844 736 8450 or 01483 238300 (national office) 0844 736 8451 or 01483 238301 (membership dept)
£1000 tourer from the Harrogate shop
Luggage for the office-bound commuter
J O Y C E
CTC. O R G . U K cyc l e 3
CYCLE
news
ctc’s analysis of what’s happening in the cycling world
page 58 ctc’s new ‘space for cycling’ campaign
Coming up
Victoria Leiper (Glasgow Bike Station), Christopher Johnson (Cycling Scotland), , Suzanne Forup (CTC), and Marguerite Hunter-Blair (Play Scotland)
CTC chief executive moves on page 6
Gordon Seabright is to leave CTC at the end of May to become Director of the Eden Project.
demanding justice page 8
CTC’s Road Justice campaign delivered a 12,000-signature petition calling for improvements to roads policing.
road safety round up page 10
£230k for early learners
Lorries could be banned from coming into London unless they have sensors and cameras fitted. But it’s not all good news.
A new CTC-led project will allow every four-year-old child in Glasgow the opportunity to learn to ride a bike, thanks to The People’s Postcode Lottery Dream Fund Play on Pedals, a collaborative project between CTC, Play Scotland, Glasgow Bike Station, and Cycling Scotland was awarded £231,957 on 29 January from the People’s Postcode Lottery Dream Fund 2014. The award, the largest single amount ever awarded to a Dream Fund project, means that every four-yearold child in Glasgow will have the chance to learn to ride a bike before they go to school. Planned to run until March 2016 from this year, to coincide with the Commonwealth Games, the project aims to help children and their families incorporate cycling into their lives. Fouryear-olds will move from balance bikes to pedal bikes with the help of ‘Professor Balance’. Families will also be able to borrow children’s bike for community led rides and to have children’s bikes
recycled through project partner Glasgow Bike Station. The four charities involved in the development of the project hope to capitalise on the excitement and interest in cycling and create a lasting legacy for the city’s young people and families. CTC Cycling Development Officer for Scotland Suzanne Forup, who headed up the project, was delighted by the grant. ‘Allowing young children to experience the fun and exhilaration of cycling independently, and to begin to develop active habits helps them to lead a healthy lifestyle as they grow through childhood and into adulthood,’ she said. Play on Pedals will work with 50 community organisations, including nurseries, playgroups, disability support groups, health and medical centres, and community
Balance bikes will be used to help teach pre-school children to ride
centres across Glasgow to create a group of cycling ambassadors. These will be instrumental in targeting every family in their community and getting them cycling. For details, visit the blog playonpedals.wordpress.com
Scan to the visit the Play on Pedals blog. Tweet us @playonpedals
CTC. O R G . U K cyc l e 5
NEWS
page 68 general purpose disc-braked road bikes on test
Disappointing standards CTC has supported an appeal by Cycling Scotland against a ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which could ban all UK advertisers from showing cyclists without helmets. This could be a devastating blow to the promotion of cycling as a safe, healthy, enjoyable and above all normal activity. The ASA’s initial ruling was made against a TV advert made by Cycling Scotland, with funding from the Scottish Government, which sought to persuade drivers to leave as much space when overtaking cyclists as they would when overtaking a horse. It attracted five complaints, which argued that it was ‘irresponsible’ for showing the cyclist riding away from the kerb and without a cycling
FROM THE CHAIR OF CTC David Cox
Five viewers complained about the cyclist in the ad
helmet or other ‘safety attire’. The complaints were initially upheld by ASA, but were rapidly withdrawn pending an independent review, after the ruling prompted a rapid 3,000signature petition and a deluge of protest emails and letters, including correspondence from the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group and the Transport & Health Study Group. CTC remains concerned
CTC Chief Exec departs Chief Executive Gordon Seabright will be leaving CTC at the end of May, having accepted an offer to become Director of the Eden Project. In his two-year tenure, Gordon has had a big impact on CTC. David Cox, Chair of CTC Council, said: ‘We wish Gordon well and thank him for his work in raising CTC’s profile in all the UK countries, and for helping forge strong alliances amongst the cycling lobby to influence policy on safer
that the review might only reverse the ruling on cyclists’ road positioning, while upholding the ban on adverts showing people cycling without helmets. Companies selling anything from beer to holidays might also be affected if they wish to show scenes of normal life in countries like the Netherlands or China in their adverts. CTC’s view on cycle helmets is online: ctc.org.uk/helmets
Gordon Seabright leaves at the end of May
cycling, investment and road justice.’ CTC Council has already begun recruitment for a successor. Carol McKinley, Operations Director, will act as interim Chief Executive during the change-over period.
Stand up for cycling CTC is looking for passionate cyclists to join CTC Council. Do you have what it takes to make a difference, guiding CTC into a new chapter of growth and development? We’re looking for inspiring individuals who want to influence the future of cycling and who understand what it takes to lead a £4million organisation.
6 cycle april/may 2014
We have opportunities coming up for new members of CTC Council in these regions: East; London; West Midlands; and Yorkshire & Humber. We also have a vacancy in the North East. To apply, you will need to submit a nomination form signed by five other CTC members. Want to know more? Why not attend a meeting as an
observer to see Council in action? You can also speak to any existing Council member or telephone Carol McKinley at National Office. Further details of how to stand, what is involved, and also the statements from existing Council members about why they stood are on CTC’s website: ctc.org.uk/aboutctc/ctc-national-council.
I hope that you are enjoying this bumper spring edition of Cycle. Like me, you are probably looking forward to more daylight and warmer weather, so you can get in more miles on a summer bike – or perhaps even a new one. It is also a busy time at CTC. I am looking forward to going to Glasgow for the AGM and Annual Awards Dinner, and hope to meet up with many of you there. Remarkable progress is being made by CTC and cycling generally in Scotland, and it will be good to get a feel for this. The following weekend is the Heart of England Rally at Meriden. This is a special anniversary to mark the 100 years since a generation of cyclists went off to fight in the First World War. Get ready too to take part in our upcoming Space for Cycling campaign, which CTC is running in conjunction with the London Cycling Campaign and local campaign groups. With local elections looming in several key cities, and national party manifestos now being drafted for next year’s general election campaign, we really need to strengthen the ‘cycling vote’ to secure commitments from local and national politicians to create the conditions that will enable anyone, regardless of age or ability, to cycle easily and safely on any journey. You will see from the news item that our Chief Executive Gordon Seabright has been enticed away from us to direct the Eden Project Finding a new Chief Executive is now a major responsibility for Council. We hope to announce a new appointment soon after this copy of Cycle reaches you.
NEWS
page 41 can the 2014 giro d’italia catalyse cycling in Northern ireland
Demanding justice
Ne w s i n b r i e f
Drivers routinely wait in ASL boxes like this without being fined
The Road Justice petition was delivered to the Association of Chief Police Officers
CTC’s Road Justice campaign, which is supported by Slater & Gordon Lawyers who run CTC’s Incident Line, has delivered a 12,000-signature petition to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), calling for improvements to roads policing. It urges police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to implement the proposals of CTC’s report ‘Road Justice: the role of the police’. These include increased priority and funding for roads policing, to strengthen the role of policing as a deterrent to road crime, to investigate road crime better when it occurs, and to improve victim support.
The petition was handed in on 12 February to Mark Milsom, ACPO’s national lead for cycling and an Assistant Chief Constable at West Yorkshire Police. He responded positively – as did West Yorkshire PCC Mark Burns-Williamson, who was also present. The meeting was also attended by the daughters of West Yorkshire CTC Council member John Radford, who had actively supported the Road Justice campaign before a car collision left him in a coma (see right). Local Wakefield MP Mary Creagh, who is also Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, added her support for the campaign, as did Dr Sarah Wollaston
> Space for Cycling
MP, Conservative Treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group (APPCG). The campaign is now calling on Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), who are responsible for securing efficient and effective policing, to implement the campaign’s recommendations.
CTC is urging members to prepare to take part in a national ‘Space for Cycling’ campaign, due to be launched in partnership with the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) and the Cyclenation federation of local campaign groups. The campaign will seek commitments from both local and national politicians to high standards of cycle-friendly planning and design – and the funding needed to deliver this. For details, see the article on page 58 – and the website spaceforcycling.org.uk
John Radford: driver on trial The trial has begun of the driver who left John in a coma. Last July, John – CTC Councillor for West Yorkshire and Chair of Huddersfield & District CTC – was hit by a car. The incident happened just weeks after he had met his local Police and Crime Commissioner to hand CTC’s ‘Road Justice’ report on roads policing. John suffered a serious brain injury and, eight months later, he has little prospect of recovery. The driver has been put on trial for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. See roadjustice.org.uk/ johnradford
> Belles on Bikes CTC is hoping to establish Belles on Bikes women’s cycling groups across Scotland in 2014. The original Belles on Bikes group grew out of a Bike Club Scotland project to get women cycling in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Glasgow Belles on Bikes is now a leisure cycling club with around 400 active participants. Volunteers are needed now to get groups started elsewhere. Could this be you? Contact suzanne.forup@ctc.org.uk for more details.
> CDF seeks advice The Cyclists’ Defence Fund is seeking advisers and observers with special expertise in areas such as public law, health and safety law, and PR, in order to assist in legal challenges. To find out more about the requirements of the roles, go to cyclistsdefencefund.org.uk/observeradviser
To email your PCC, go to roadjustice.org.uk
CTC called for leadership, commitment to quality cycling conditions, and funding of at least £10 per person annually to ‘Get Britain Cycling’ when giving evidence at a Commons Transport Select Committee inquiry on cycle safety in February. The inquiry was called following a horrific spate of six cyclists’ deaths in London within 13 days last November. After submitting written evidence, CTC was called by the committee to present oral evidence alongside British Cycling’s spokesman Chris Boardman and AA President Edmund King. In response to the Prime Minister’s call last summer for a ‘cycling revolution’, CTC reiterated the call for top-level leadership made by CTC President Jon Snow during the Select Committee’s original road safety inquiry in April 2012. CTC is calling for: ● Targets that encourage more as well as safer cycling.
8 cycle april/may 2014
Edmund KIng, Chris Boardman and Roger Geffen
● Lower speed limits. ● Cycle-friendly road design standards. ● Training and awareness campaigns to promote safety among all road users. ● Strengthened road traffic law and enforcement, with roads policing being given greater priority. ● Improved lorry safety. For more on this story, see tinyurl.com/ ptroxpq
Martin Key
CTC addresses safety inquiry
You win! Congratulations to Sally Berry of Okehampton, who won the Tifosi CK7 Audax bike, donated by Wiggle, in our membership survey competition. Sally said: ‘The bike handles very well, and the gearing helps me up the Devon hills. I’ve never taken part in an audax, but it would be churlish not to now so I’m working up to an event this summer. Recommendations for an easy first event would be welcome!’
News
Campaigns
page 58 ctc’s new ‘space for cycling’ campaign
read all about it go online
iStockphoto.com
Visit ctc.org.uk/ campaigning for a more in-depth analysis of this and other stories
Road safety round-up Lorries without sensors are to be restricted from entering London, and some accident blackspots in the capital are being fixed. CTC Campaigns Director Roger Geffen reports
London Mayor Boris Johnson has quick and effective way to reduce the announced a £300m programme to risks posed to cyclists by lorries within redesign or remove 33 of London’s the current law. most dangerous roundabouts or oneway systems. The announcement is Building better lorries good news for cycle safety at some of CTC and other cycling groups are London’s worst blackspots, including also calling for far-reaching changes the Elephant & Castle, Aldgate, and to the design of lorries. The EU is Swiss Cottage. But the fact that the considering new rules to allow a programme of 33 schemes has slight lengthening of lorries, been whittled down from a giving them a rounder front get more on list of 100 locations merely profile that would prevent campaigns shows how badly underpedestrians or cyclists from Sign up to CTC’s online, monthly campaigns funded the programme was being able to disappear bulletin, CycleDigest, at initially, with an allocation of below the lorry driver’s field ctc.org.uk/ cycledigest just £19m. of vision in front of the lorry. Transport for London European safety and (TfL) and London Councils environmental groups, including (the association of London borough the European Cyclists’ Federation authorities) have meanwhile announced (ECF, of which CTC is a member) have plans to restrict lorries from entering welcomed the proposed changes, London unless fitted with safety saying they will also improve lorries’ fuel equipment, such as cameras and efficiency. The ECF is hoping to achieve sensors. CTC and the London further improvements to EU Directive Cycling Campaign (LCC) have broadly 96/53, to lower the seating height of welcomed the plans, saying they are a lorry drivers and to increase the window
10 cyc le april/may 2014
area on the front and sides of lorry cabs, thereby improving the ability of lorry drivers to see cyclists alongside or just in front of the lorry. The situation is more complicated in the UK, where the amended directive would also permit continental-style mega-trucks to operate on UK roads, despite the Government’s objections. Sticking point CTC has also joined the London Cycling Campaign and other groups in criticising the widespread use of a TfL sticker which warns cyclists to ‘Stay back’. The sticker was originally intended for the backs of lorries, yet TfL has now been encouraging its widespread use on buses and even on small, car-sized vans. CTC obviously agrees on the need to warn cyclists of the risks of riding up the inside of lorries with poorly designed cabs. However, it is quite wrong for drivers of other vehicles to be given the impression that overtaking stationary or slow-moving traffic on the inside is somehow ‘irresponsible’. In safe, cycle-friendly countries like the Netherlands, drivers expect to have to check for cyclists or pedestrians who might be alongside them before turning. We need to adopt a similar approach in the UK if cycling here is to become a normal activity for people of all ages and abilities – including those who lack the confidence or speed to overtake by pulling out into the traffic stream.
News
page 44 explore glasgow by bike after the CTC AGM in may
Events
Ahead of the AGM in Glasgow on 10 May, CTC is holding a networking event for CTC volunteers, Member Groups and affiliated clubs. It will take place in the morning at the same venue, Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel, and will follow the popular format of previous years. The morning will start with a seminar – ‘An introduction on how to influence Parliament’ – followed by a series of informal round-table sessions on PR, social media, working with volunteers, and engaging with new members. CTC Councillors will be attending. This is a free event open to CTC members, although you will need to book a place. Contact Sue Cherry on 01483 238302 or email sue.cherry@ctc.org.uk. All CTC members are welcome to attend the AGM that afternoon. Proof of membership is required. If you wish to vote on the motions at the AGM but will not be there in person, see the separate address sheet that came with this issue of Cycle. For details of the AGM Agenda, turn to page 16. The CTC National Dinner is also at the Radisson Blu Hotel, and takes place that
iStockphoto.com
Groups set for Glasgow
Glasgow hosts the 2014 Commonwealth Games
evening. Tickets are £30 each and must be booked in advance. See the booking form in the Dec-Jan issue or get a copy online: ctc.org.uk/event/ctc-agm-dinner. For queries about the dinner, contact Sue Cherry (as above). On Sunday 11 May, there will be a range of guided rides from and around Glasgow. Turn to page 44 for more information. This issue of Cycle doesn’t contain the CTC Annual Report, which is always published prior to the AGM. This follows a special resolution at the AGM in 2012 on
the subject of digital communication. Those members who have told CTC that they wish to receive printed copies will be sent them. The Annual Report and Financial Statements can be download here: tinyurl.com/qjuhfhx
Scan this with your phone or tablet to view the Annual Report
First World War: 100 years on
100-year-old Bert Catchpole
1921: unveiling the Meriden memorial
12 cyc le ap r il/m ay 2014
CTC is commemorating the centenary of the First World War with a special podcast. Speaking to the author of ‘The Bicycle in Wartime’, Jim Fitzpatrick, we take a look at the contributions made by cyclists in the Great War. The half-hour podcast also delves into the articles and letters of the CTC Gazette during that time, and we learn about the life of CTC member and WWI war baby, Bert Catchpole, who is 100. Go to the podcast section of iTunes and search for ‘CTC, the national cycling charity’. The CTC Heart of England Meriden Cycling Rally is staging a special programme of commemorative events. The village green of Meriden, the centre of England (situated between Coventry and Birmingham), is home to the National War Memorial
dedicated to cyclists. Both audax and leisure rides are on the programme for Saturday 17 May. In the evening, there’s supper and a screening of Alan Bennett’s BBC production of ‘A Day Out’ – a story set in the years leading up to the war. The centennial memorial service is on Sunday 18 May at 11am, followed by tea and cake at the Village Hall, where cycling memorabilia will be displayed. For more details, visit: ctcheartofengland.org.uk. We’d love to hear from you if anyone in your family served in one of the cyclist battalions. We’re also looking for help with research into CTC members serving in the Great War. There’s no need to be based near CTC in Guildford, but volunteers will need to have web access. Email therese.bjorn@ctc.org.uk
The village green of Meriden, the centre of England (between Coventry and Birmingham), is home to the National War Memorial dedicated to cyclists
News
Events
Photo: Jim Brown
Tourist season starts
Stevenage’s Start of Summertime Specials are on 30 March
The winter break is over: the 2014 CTC Tourist Competition began again in March. Hundreds of CTC members will compete in events across the country tget their first points in this eight-month long competition. If you haven’t entered before, there is something for everyone. The 2014 Tourist Competition calendar boasts 150 events nationwide, so you can easily find rides close to you. The CTC website will let you track your progress – and your competitors’ – as you earn points through the season, with live league tables for every class and category, plus event reports, updates, photos and more. There are competitions for juniors (under 18 on 1st March), women (aged 18-50 on 1st March), men (ditto), and veterans (over 50 on 1st March). And there are six categories of event. Category A rides are 25-79 miles, B rides 80-119 miles, C rides 120-185 miles, and D rides 186 miles and over. There are also special events such as map-reading, treasure hunts, freewheeling competitions, and hill climbs, which all fall under category E. And there are off-road events: category F. Historically this competition was organised by Bob Kynaston and Mark Draper, but after Bob sadly passed away in 2013, Mark also decided it was time to step down. New organisers Luke Peters and Daniel Moore, our young Volunteer of the Year winners for 2012, have taken over. They have worked on improving the website features and making preparations for the 2014 competition, as well
14 cyc le ap r il/m ay 2014
as compiling the provisional results for 2013. Chester & North Wales dominated again. Peter Dilworth retained overall first place, just in front of fellow Chester & North Wales competitors Lowri Evans and Andy Polakowski. Peter managed the triple too, winning the team trophy and men’s veteran class as well. Lowri Evans won the women’s and women’s veteran classes. Laura Higham of Stevenage & North Herts CTC retained her junior champion title, after putting in a great all-round performance. Her brother Kieran Higham was the best-placed junior boy. The winners will receive their awards at the
CTC National Dinner in Glasgow (see p12). The full listing of 2013 results is online: ctc. org.uk/ctc-tourist-competition. You can find details of Tourist Competition rides there too. Follow the CTC Tourist Competition on Facebook and Twitter: #ridehard
Scan this to go to the Tourist Competition page on the CTC site
2013 Tourist Competition winners Shaftesbury Trophy and Arthur Moss medal
Overall winner: Peter Dilworth (Chester & North Wales) Second place overall: Lowri Evans (Chester & North Wales) Third place overall: Andy Polakowski (Chester & North Wales)
E.F. Butterworth Trophy
Winner of the Ladies’ competition: Lowri Evans (Chester & North Wales)
Brooks Trophy
Winner of the Girls’ (junior) competition: Lauren Higham (Stevenage & North Herts)
Junior Trophy
Winner of the Boys’ (junior) competition: Kieran Higham (Stevenage & North Herts)
P.H. Catt Memorial Trophy
Winner of the Male Veterans’ competition: Peter Dilworth (Chester & North Wales)
Craven Vase
Winner of the Female Veterans’ competition: Lowri Evans (Chester & North Wales)
Team Trophy
Winner of the Team Competition: Chester & North Wales (Peter Dilworth, Lowri Evans, Andy Polakowski and Dave Statham)
PAGE 48 what makes a great cyclists’ café?
Birthday Rides in York This year’s CTC Birthday Rides will be based just outside York, from 13-19 August. Accommodation is at Askham Bryan College, an easy ride from the city centre and within reach of the Yorkshire Wolds and North York Moors. There will be a choice of four rides each day, with optional coach trips to Richmond on the Friday and Goathland and Whitby on the Sunday. Entertainment will be provided each evening. All the rooms at the college are singles, some suitable for wheelchair users. Camping for tents, caravans, motorhomes and campervans will be on the grassed area close to the accommodation blocks. Camping is on a selfcatering basis. Bookings close on 27 June, or sooner if maximum numbers are reached. If you book before 14 April, there’s a discount on accommodation. En-suite rooms cost £365 rather than £405 for an adult, standard rooms £330 rather than
E V ENTS IN B RIE F
> YORK SHOW cancelled Following cancellation of the 2013 York Cycle Show, the York Cycle Show Committee has been dissolved by CTC Council. Volunteers from the northern cycling community are encouraged to come forward with ideas for a new event. CTC’s National Office team can provide advice on strategies, business cases and budgets. Mutually agreeable governance policies will be required, as outlined in Appendix 1 of the CTC Member Groups Policy Handbook.
>
York is just five miles from the holiday venue
£370. Rooms for under-16s, who must be accompanied on the holiday by a parent or guardian, are all £30 lower. And there are discounts if you book multiple rooms. Prices are for six nights halfboard. Camping pitches are £110 per adult for six nights if booked by 14 April,
£125 otherwise. Under16s sharing a pitch with parent or guardian go free. Registration only, for locals or those arranging their own accommodation, is £75. Visit birthdayrides.org, email birthdayrides2014@ btopenworld.com, or phone Peter Mathison 07733 700529
New Forest’s 40th
Photo: Dan & Janice Montgomerie
The CTC New Forest Cycling Week celebrates its 40th consecutive year in 2014, having been founded in 1975. To mark the occasion, there will be a marquee so that visitors can gather to enjoy a 40th birthday cake, along with cheese and wine (soft drinks available). Around 200 campers attend the rally each year. It’s an informal event aimed at families, small groups of cyclists, and individuals, based
Quiet forest tracks suit family cycling
at the UK Youth Activity Centre at Avon Tyrrell Manor near Burley. This year it runs from 25 July2 August. The New Forest has many minor roads and tracks, so cycling is enjoyable and safe for all. As well as rides each day, there are adventure facilities on site, and activities will include a children’s time trial, swimming, and a barbecue. Visitors can attend for the whole duration or for just a day or two. Camping fees are £8.50 per night per adult, £3.50 per night for children aged 5-17, and it’s free for under-5s. Adult campers travelling by cycle and pitching in the lightweight camping area will be charged £7.00 per night. For details, visit newforestrallycc.org.uk
VELOFEST TOUR FESTIVAL CTC members can take advantage of a 10% discount when booking for VéloFest, a four-day camping, cycling and music festival that coincides with the first two stages of the 2014 Tour de France in Yorkshire. The 60-acre site at Kilnsey Park Estate is ideally positioned along Stage 1 of the Tour, as it passes through the Yorkshire Dales. There will be viewing platforms and giant screens showing the race live. Prices start at £150 for a car plus tent for three nights, with caravans and campervans £190. For details, visit velofest.co.uk. Use the code CTC10 when booking.
>
RALLYING ROUND The inaugural Lothians and Borders Rally takes place from 23-26 May at Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park on the southern outskirts of Edinburgh. There will be 20, 40 and 60 mile rides, with leaders and route sheets. For details, tel: 0131 334 1786 or email vtt@ctclothians.org.uk. The Beaumanor Hall Camping Rally, held by CTC East Midlands, is at Beaumanor Hall, Woodhouse, near Loughborough, from 23-27 May. There are rides each day. For details, contact Ray Clay (01509 261068, ray.j.clay@googlemail.com) or visit ctceastmidlands.co.uk.
>
NEW CTC MEMBER GROUPS A meeting to form new Member Group ‘Redditch & Bromsgrove CTC’ will take place at Webheath Village Hall, Heathfield Road, Redditch, B97 5SQ, on Saturday 21 June at 3.30pm. A meeting to form new Member Group ‘Fleet Cycling’ will take place at The Wills Hall, Sandy Lane, Church Crookham, Hants, GU52 8LD, on 20 April at 11am.
CTC. O R G . U K cyc l e 15
AGM
page 12 This year’s agm will be preceded by a networking session for ctc member groups
CTC AGM Agenda & Minutes CYCLISTS’ TOURING CLUB
T
he Annual General Meeting of the Cyclists’ Touring Club will be held at 2pm on Saturday 10th May 2014 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, 301 Argyle St, Glasgow, G2 8DL. To obtain admission, members must produce a valid membership card or other proof of current membership. Gordon Seabright, Chief Executive
activities in and communications with CTC Cymru, Scotland and NI, and report back to the next AGM. Proposer’s note: Like other third sector organisations, notably British Cycling and Sustrans, if CTC is to be effective as a pan-UK body, its activities and communications need to acknowledge that responsibilities for transport, leisure and health (since 1999) have been
A full copy of the Articles of Association and Determinations in General Meeting is available on the CTC website or on request from National Office, and copies will be available at the meeting. Versions of this agenda in alternative formats are also available on request from National Office. The Proxy Voting form is circulated with the April-May edition of Cycle. Procedures for use are on the form and are available on the CTC website.
devolved to the governments and Assembly of these nations. A ‘Four Nations Strategy’ is needed because huge opportunities are being missed because of the structure of CTC. This is
3) To reappoint Buzzacott LLP as auditors and to authorise the Council to fix their
an organisational issue, not a resource one; CTC
remuneration.
Cymru, Scotland and NI are not simply member or local groups.
CARRIED: For 2,450 Against 52 Abstentions 176
Council response: Council welcomes this motion.
Ordinary Resolutions
Our existing strategy already recognises the
4) Proposed by Martin Cockersole on behalf of
importance of working across the four nations of
the Council, seconded by Jim Brown.
the UK, and our structures reflect the importance
That, with effect from 1 October 2013 the
Agenda
of our national volunteer committees. It is not the
subscription table to the determination
case that “huge opportunities are being missed”;
pursuant to current Article 4.4 of the Articles
Ordinary Business
by volunteers and staff to influence governments
1) To adopt as a true record the minutes of the
in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. However it
of Association shall remain unchanged.
indeed, very significant efforts are being made
Annual General Meeting held in Guisborough
is entirely appropriate that the Chief Executive
on 11th May 2013.
should report on work across the nations.
CARRIED: For 2,530 Against 40 Abstentions 107
5) Proposed by Colin Clarke, seconded by Ron Healey. That CTC seeks amendments to the Highway
2) To adopt the Annual Report of the Council and the audited accounts for the year ended 30th September 2013 as published on the CTC website. 3) To reappoint Buzzacott LLP as auditors and to authorise the Council to fix their remuneration.
Code when it is next revised, to increase
Minutes of the 2013 Cyclists’ Touring Club AGM
law, including: greater priority at junctions; stronger requirements on the need for drivers to leave space when overtaking cyclists; and changes to advice which may be used by drivers and their insurers (or others) to argue
The Annual General Meeting of the Cyclists’
that cyclists are liable for their own injuries,
Touring Club held on Saturday 11 May 2013
eg by not wearing helmets or high visibility
Ordinary Resolutions
at the Gisborough Hall Hotel, Whitby Lane,
4) Proposed by Dan Howard on behalf of the
Guisborough, TS14 6PT. With David Cox (Chair of
Council, seconded by Gwenda Owen.
cyclists’ protection in both civil and criminal
clothing.
CARRIED: For 2,665 Against 7 Abstentions 6
CTC National Council) in the Chair. 6) Proposed by Graham Smith, seconded by
That, with effect from 1st October 2014 the subscription table to the determination
Ordinary Business
Richard Bates.
pursuant to current Article 4.4 of the Articles
1) To adopt as a true record the minutes of the
That CTC will press for the UK’s governments
of Association be deleted and replaced by the
Annual General Meeting held in Sheffield on
to promote better use of highway maintenance
following: “Ordinary Membership Subscription
12 May 2012.
budgets and the planning process as
CARRIED: For 2,517 Against 7 Abstentions 153
ongoing sources of funding that would
effective from 1 October 2014: £41.50”.
enable improvements to cycling conditions 5) Proposed by Hugh Mackay, seconded by
2) To adopt the Annual Report of the Council
to be made consistently and cost-effectively,
Tom Wells.
and the audited accounts for the year
including the provision of cycle parking and
Addressing the changed governance structure
ended 30 September 2012 as published on
other dedicated cycle facilities, for the benefit
of the UK, the Chief Executive and Council
the CTC website.
will review, in consultation with members, its
16 cycle ap r il/m ay 2014
CARRIED: For 2,516 Against 8 Abstentions 150
of all existing and would-be cycle users.
CARRIED: For 2,658 Against 11 Abstentions 10
REVIEWS
submit a review components/kit/accessories/more
gear up
april/may 2014
If you want to submit a review, write or email the editor – details on page 88 – for advice. Each one printed wins a Green Oil Eco Rider Deluxe set worth £34.99. For more about Green Oil’s environmentally friendly bike products, visit green-oil.net
Diamonds Weren’t Forever
Middleburn Incy Spider £276.50 (chainset as tested)
Reviewed by Chris Juden Triples have been synonymous with touring since the late ’70s, when we had only five gears at the back. Now we have 9- or 10-speed 11-36 cassettes, a double is enough… and shifts better. Compact road doubles aren’t compact enough. Cyclo-cross chainsets come with smaller outers, but the inner can’t be any less than 34T. The new MTB doubles go small enough but are awful ‘waddly’ to pedal, with a wide spread across the crank ends. They also put the chain too far out for efficient use of big and big, a favourite gear on a double as it’s the lowest before dropping into the inner ring. But cyclo-cross and mountain doubles have spawned potentially useful front mechs. During 2013, I used a Middleburn Duo crankset to trial a number of 18-speed touring arrangements, and found that doubles as much as 20 teeth different with a chainline close to 43.5mm, typical of road doubles, could be shifted reliably by a Shimano SLX M667 mech intended for MTBs with even smaller rings and wider chainlines. This proved the concept, but the Duo spider slopes inwards giving the cranks a wide pedal spread. So I helped Middleburn design a new 5-arm spider to hold the smallest available chainrings closer to the back of the crank, on a much shorter axle. This spider being good for climbing, we called it Incy! I have 40- and 20-tooth rings on the 110 and 58mm bolt circles of Incy’s five arms. With a 9-speed 11-34T cassette, gears go from 16 to 98 inches, a broader range than most triples. Front shifting calls for a simultaneous rear shift of three
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to four sprockets, but ambidextrous shifting is easy with indexed shifters. My set-up (600g, less axle) tests this concept to the limit. A less extreme range will need fewer compensatory rear shifts. Outer rings from 34T up to 50T and inners from 20T to 32T can be fitted to an Incy spider. With square-taper cranks on a Shimano 113mm UN bottom-bracket, it gives a chainline of about 45mm – same as the middle rear sprocket on a 135mm hub. Choose road cranks for minimum pedal spread (152mm on that axle) or the wider splayed (by 14mm) rS7 cranks to clear the chain-stays on mountain bikes. On road bikes with 130mm hubs, or for smoother running in big and big and a narrower (146mm) pedal spread: use a 107mm Shimano or 110mm Stronglight axle – but only if your front mech will shift a 42mm chainline. Outer rings 42T and smaller can be shifted by an SLX mountain double mech. That won’t work with Shimano road STI, so drop-bar fans must use some other shifting option or mech. Also, a 1mm washer may be required with this spider when such small outers are used on road cranks (pictured). A Sram XX mountain double mech will shift outer rings up to 46T on a 43.5mm chainline, but is too narrow for 9-speed chains; use 10-speed gearing. Outers up to 48T can be shifted by mountain triple mechs, but these are likely to foul chain-stays of 700C bikes with outers under 44T. The range of interchangeable spiders with hard-wearing chainrings make these expensive Middleburn cranks a sound investment. middleburn.co.uk, tel: 01420 520223
£20 plus £2.60 p&p
Reviewed by Ross Adams This coffee table book brings together ‘An A to Z of Unusual Cycle Frames’ in the format of catalogue extracts, advertisements, and magazine reviews, with accompanying text from the contributors. It provides a comprehensive view of quirky frame design from the early 1900s up to the 1960s. In the main, the photographs and scanned images are of good quality, although some of the text printed within is harder to read. This doesn’t distract hugely from the book, which is interesting and informative. To order a copy, send a cheque for £22.60 to ‘D Pinkerton’, 522 Holly Lane, Erdington, B24 9LY. Tel: 07778 429313
Reviews
gear up
Fastrider Aquadus panniers £89.99 per pair Reviewed by David Dowling These panniers go head-tohead on price with Ortlieb Roller Classics. I tried the 16-litre ones – on the rear as I couldn’t adjust them to sit securely on a front rack. Contents remained dry in winter rain, and even when I tested them in the shower. They’re sturdy too. When I overloaded the bags and bumped up and down a series of kerbs, the hooks
were fine. However, the hook’s catches are basic: a spring-loaded screw that needs to be turned to release or lock the bags. Misjudge the number of turns and the whole assembly can spring apart! And the canoe closure attaches to a strap that goes around the bag’s circumference. This makes it slower to fasten the bag and leaves loose ends near the wheel. chickencycles.co.uk
Altura Progel Shield Bib Shorts £69.99
Blackburn Airstik 2-Stage Pump £19.99 Reviewed by Dan Joyce The smallest pump I’ve got that I don’t hate using is a Topeak Mini-Morph: 152g without its frame bracket, and 26cm long. But on many rides over the past few years I’ve carried a tiny Blackburn Airstik SL (58g, 15.8cm). The times I’ve needed it, it’s done the job – just. This Airstik 2-Stage is its slightly big brother (86g, 17.4cm). It has a switch to flip between low and high pressure
pumping. Low pressure means more volume per stroke. It’s still like filling a bath with an egg cup but it’s tangibly better for fatter tyres. I tried it on a 700×25C road tyre and a 29×2.3in mountain bike tyre. After losing count of the absurd number of strokes, I just checked the pressure at two and four minutes – at which point I’d had enough. I managed 60psi and 70psi respectively for the road tyre, 15psi and a usable 25psi for the 29er tyre. It’s now my go-to getme-home MTB pump. It comes with a bracket (22g) that fits offset under a bottle cage. Presta only. zyro.co.uk
Dual Eyewear V6 Sunglasses £39.59 Reviewed by CTC member Nigel Bell Dual Eyewear’s V6 sunglasses are lightweight, stylish and comfortable. They’re also bifocal, with a magnification section built into the lower portion of the lenses. As reading glasses they perform well, making it easy to see the detail on a map or GPS. The transition between the lens elements is obvious, but it is relatively unobtrusive and easily ignored. Optical quality seems good, and the grey lenses aren’t too dark, so they should be usable on all but the dullest of winter days. At around £40, they are good value for money and
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they’ve transformed my cycling: no more swapping specs at every junction to check the route. They are available in +1.5, +2.0 or +2.5 magnifications, and there are several different styles in the range, including shields with optional interchangeable lenses. For the price, it may be possible to find better sunglasses, but for sheer convenience these V6 specs are hard to beat. ctcshop.org.uk
Reviewed by Dan Joyce What’s special about these bib shorts is the seat panel: it’s waterproof. The idea is that wheel spray from wet roads or trails won’t give you that squelchy seatpad feeling. The other panels are normal, so these are not waterproof shorts per se. Even the seat panel didn’t seem impermeable, although that could be dampness seeping in from elsewhere. They’re nevertheless drier and hence cosier than other bib shorts. I wore them throughout the recent wet winter, and they became my first choice as undershorts for mountain biking. (My road bike has full length mudguards.) Fit and comfort are as good as any other bib shorts, as the seat panel is stretchy. You pay a £20 premium compared to the nonShield version. It’s worth it. Sizes: S-XXL. zyro.co.uk
Cycling the Pennine Bridleway £14.95 Reviewed by Gavin Wood The Pennine Bridleway is a National Trail that heads up the spine of England from Derbyshire to Cumbria. Although the trail is multi-use, this guide is written with mountain bikers in mind. The book covers sections of the trail that lie in Yorkshire and Lancashire; it just sneaks into Cumbria. There is a useful introduction covering start points, accommodation, and the route grading system. Routes are accurately described with a good level of detail. A summary provides practical information such as OS map segments, grid references for start and finish points, distance, ascent, and the very important detail of cafés and pubs you’ll find en route. An excellent book, with some great photos of gritty Pennine landscapes to help inspire your ride. cicerone.co.uk
Reviews
gear up
Selle Royal Becoz Moderate Saddle £49.99
Bridge Street Saddlebag, Large £80 Reviewed by Tim Trew Bridge Street saddlebags launched last year. Made in Britain, they’re more minimalist than Carradice saddlebags, with one roll-top compartment holding a couple of zipped pockets. There are three sizes: this large (15 litres), medium (8 litres, £70) and small (4 litres, £60). Maximum load for any is 7kg if you use the ‘low bracket’, which holds the bag next to the seatpost, or 5kg for the ‘high bracket’ that I used. This holds the bag further back. The bag clips on bar-bag style to either bracket. Fitting is dead easy. The large bag held all my supplies for a weekend of rainy cycling around North Wales. The roll-top expandable closure meant there was space for extra food shopping in the evening too. The two-layer coated nylon fabric kept my spare clothes dry, and the simple quick-release clip meant it was easy to
take off for café stops. The bag held firm even on rough tracks and didn’t swing around; I started to forget it was even there. The only drawback was that opening and closing it with cold hands was a bit fiddly. Perhaps a couple of buckles on the webbing would make it quicker to get your map or waterproof out in a hurry. The strapping system was, I think, the main downside against Carradice bags. The fabric isn’t as tough as Cotton Duck either, although it is lighter – 700g for the whole bag, including fixings, versus 1215g for a comparably sized Carradice Nelson plus SQR bracket (which will carry 10kg rather than 5kg). But if you want to travel fast and light, this could be just the bag for you. bridgestreet.cc
Reviewed by David Dowling This sits in the middle of the Becoz range of generously upholstered saddles padded with ‘corkgel’. At a smidge over half a kilo, it’s about the same weight as a Brooks B17 (and half the price). The marketing materials make great play of the saddle’s ‘eco’ credentials. They also suggest that this saddle is ideal for a riding position where your back is 60 degrees from horizontal – touring, recreational riding, and commuting. I found it comfortable from tops to drops even on a sporty bike. The surface of the saddle, while waterproof, seems to grab at clothing. Shifting your weight on the saddle requires you to lift your rear and put it down again. The rails are unusually steep and quite short, and the whole design is set back. I had to put the saddle as far forward as possible to get a normal position. It was then comfortable, supporting my sit bones well. For me, it still errs a little on the squidgy side. A women’s version is available. selleroyal.com
Cycling Along Europe’s Rivers £14.95
Alpe Deux Merino Wool Jersey £78 Reviewed by Editor Dan Joyce Woollen jerseys look classy, insulate well when damp, and don’t pong after a day’s use like lycra. On the flipside, wool gets a lot heavier when it gets wet and it doesn’t have Lycra’s elasticity. Fit is looser, and I found the buttoned rear pockets useful for only the lightest items, such as a gilet. Any weight made the jersey sag too much – and it’s long and loose to begin with. Alpe Deux now recommend going down a size. This UK-made jersey is lovely and soft to wear. I just didn’t wear it often, due to the lack of pocket practicality, looser fit, and fussier laundry requirements (30 degree wash, liquid detergent). Nice for special occasions, though. Sizes: S-XL. alpedeux.com
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Reviewed by David Dowling Michael J Lyon’s book is a companion to the highly-regarded German Bikeline series of guides. It’s a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. Cicerone, amongst others, produce excellent, pocket-sized guides for each of the Rhine, Danube and Loire rivers in English, giving you everything you need for each trip. This bigger book looks like a personal desktop publishing project. The maps and images are monochrome and add little. The writing is subjective and occasionally defies received wisdom; he advises against waterproof panniers. There is some useful information. If you want it, get the ebook. cycletouringbooks.com
join in discussions online: forum.Ctc.Org.Uk
your opinions, your cycling, your ideas
cold. When I got home, there was a message on my answer machine: Barry was home safe too. It’s a day I’ll never forget. Tom Halliday
Letters
Storm force This winter, I was caught in the worst storm that I’ve ever experienced. With a third of our planned 61 miles ridden, my mate Barry and I saw pitch-black clouds looming. As we live several miles apart, we decided to split up and head home immediately. Shortly after, all hell broke loose. Gale force winds and stinging hail brought me to a standstill. I stood like an emperor penguin with my back to the elements whilst clinging on to my bike. I was on a country lane in the middle of nowhere with no shelter. Jagged lightning bolts struck the fields next to me! After about 15 minutes there was a slight lull, so I set off again, soaked from head to toe and very
Write to us at: cycle letters, ctc, parklands, railton road, guildford gu2 9jx, or email: cycleletters@ctc.Org.Uk
This month: Edinburgh infrastructure, stormy cycling, three-wheelers (s)trike back, mudguards, off-road access, a weighty problem, and a helping hand on hills Letter
Right: Flickr Creative Commons shot by ‘the Magnificent Octopus’. Top: iStockphoto.com
of the month
Wrong signals I was interested to read the piece on ‘Practical Cycle-Proofing’ in the Feb-Mar issue, but I’m mystified by the use of photo three on page 57, which shows an advance direction sign on a cycle route with the caption ‘how not to do it’. The context here is a shared-route footway beside a busy main road, on a route between Leith and Portobello. The sign is just before a toucan crossing of the main road, and the continuation street is a quiet road. The route is being developed by Edinburgh Council and
Sustrans. Spokes, CTC, and Sustrans are happy with what the council have done, and are doing, with this route. (It’s part of a Sustrans local route, so they are part-funding it.) They’ve already put in a nice new bridge to replace an old rail bridge, and a ramp to replace former steps. Where the photo is taken, a former footway has been widened and re-surfaced to become shared-use. The route as a whole creates a link from Portobello promenade (now accepted for shared-use) to the east, with Leith Links to the west. It connects Leith to Portobello, all off-road. Peter Hawkins
Apologies to Peter and the other Edinburgh cyclists who wrote in about this. I was looking for a photo that showed cycle provision being forced to fit around the road network rather than being part of an integrated network. This sign seemed to show that. Clearly it doesn’t.
Retaliatory trike I commend the fact that CTC is more inclusive these days. I remember taking previous Chief Executive Kevin Mayne to task for CTC’s then strapline ‘keeping you on two wheels’. As a tricyclist, it was very narrow-minded. It’s better now, but there is still room for improvement. According to the recent survey (last issue), I don’t appear to cycle! There was no mention of adapted cycles or trikes. I feel aggrieved that I am excluded from your version of the cycling community. It is hard enough having to contend with the narrowmindedness of road planners and those in charge of so-called ‘cycle provision’, without having to chivvy the organisation that is supposed to represent my interests! Bob Nolan
Guards, guards! It can’t be easy writing an editor’s letter, knowing that by the time it goes to press the cycling world may have moved on. So congratulations on the mudguard intro. I am currently building up my first bike from parts. It will become my third road bike. My Specialized Secteur Sport was lovely, but had Sora shifters I didn’t like and no proper mudguards. So I moved on to a Verenti
Letters are edited for space (if above 150 words), clarity and, if necessary, legality. Please note that if you have specific complaint or query about CTC policy, you should address it to your CTC Councillor or relevant National Office staff member. Letters and emails for the June-July issue must arrive by 30 April.
CTC. O R G . U K cyc l e 2 5
Obituaries Jack Gledhill: 1916–2013 Died aged 97. Jack grew up in Halifax with his mother; his father perished in 1918 in WW1. Jack became an engineer and rode with the erstwhile Halifax section. His cycle-touring was interrupted by seven-day shift-working during WW2. He kept cycling diaries from 1946, including records of his racing days with Yorkshire Century Racing Club. Jack was a family man – his daughter recalls sidecars, tandems and a triplet. Remembered by his peers as strong, stoic and weatherproof, Jack was still riding at nearly 90. John Whiteley Snap happy Congratulations to Edwin Jones, who won the photo competition we announced in the June-July 13 issue of Cycle with this shot: Canyon Ride. Edwin wins an Ortlieb bar bag with camera insert plus a Gorrillapod Classic, worth over £100. You can see the other category winnners at ctc.org.uk/news/cycle-photo-competition-summer-2013-winners
Kilmeston, with Sram shifters and full mudguards, but it was so harsh over longer distances. Now I’m graduating to a self-built Spa Steel Audax, which I will equip with the Verenti’s components – including the mudguards. Given the mild but soggy winter this year, I cannot imagine riding sans guards. Of course, for some folks double-sealed hubs might not be enough, given the floods. I guess the 16% hill I live on has its benefits.
suspension and, at her request, a sprung seat-post. It weighs 17.5kg without a basket or panniers! Using extra alloy to prevent fatigue, then hiding the poor ride comfort with suspension is not progress. I’ve searched for cheap steel bikes but not found any, only ‘designer’ ones. Where are they? Phil Ely
Nick Marston
Gary Outram
Material benefits? I’ve cycled through the evolution of bicycle materials, from steel to aluminium to carbon frames and next, no doubt, back to steel. I have an aluminium touring bike with fat front forks and the ride comfort is appalling. I recently bought my wife another bike for shopping. It’s aluminium, with front
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Died suddenly on 18 January, aged 69, whilst returning from a club run with wife Pat. He was the Chairman of Heart of England Member Group, and a leading light of their Redditch & Bromsgrove Group, which he helped develop. He was a regular club rider, had toured in Europe and North America and enjoyed everything cycling. His enthusiasm and warmth made him a great ambassador for cycling. He persuaded many to become club riders. Alan Head
Sue Simmons: 12/03/46–04/12/13 Sue Simmons, a founder member of Reading CTC, died peacefully at home on 4th December 2013. She had battled breast cancer since April 2010, but was going to the gym, cycling and walking until January last year. Sue rode with the local group and had enjoyed several CTC tours in Europe. Throughout her illness, Sue remained remarkably cheerful and in good spirits, and carried on riding until it became impossible. Sue had several bikes, but was most often seen on her faithful and extremely retro pink Roberts. Mick Simmons
Brian Archer: 24/04/1932–18/11/2013
Off-road access There is a small note in the latest edition of Cycle regarding cycle access on Ministry of Defence land. I am a Sustrans Ranger, and sections of NCN1 that I cover in Medway use military roads (liable to closure at any time) and a permissive path across MoD land. It was thanks to a Cycle article about two years ago that I was able to establish contact with the MoD about route maintenance. Since then, vegetation has been cleared and potholes repaired when I’ve reported problems, usually promptly. Last October, NCN179 was re-routed along another stretch of military road in the same area. I reported some potholes this week and anticipate the same prompt action. So it isn’t all bad news.
Richard Bradshaw
To paraphrase Keith Bontrager: light, cheap, practical – pick two. Koga’s LightDeluxe M (above) is a practical trekking bike that weighs only 12kg. But at £1500, it’s not cheap. See koga.com. For a steel tourer for you: see page 77.
electric avenue I’m 80 this year and recently bought a Scott E-Venture e-bike. I have been a CTC member for 20 years, and some years ago joined a group on a 15km club ride. I explained that I was out of practice and was told by two of the ladies that when I had to get off, they would get off and walk with me. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride but found it hard work, even with a triple chainset. My new pedelec makes things much easier, and still provides much needed exercise. I would advise anyone who thinks they are getting past being able to cycle to at least have a test ride on an e-bike. It’s like having a strong tailwind. The battery on mine will easily do 35 miles. Alan Spencer
Brian was born in Camberwell, London, but the war forced a family move to Dorchester, where they ran a small café. After working briefly for the Atomic Energy Authority, Brian took teacher training, and worked in local schools. He joined CTC in 1947, riding with the former West Dorset section and is gratefully remembered by many for his help to young cyclists. His enquiring mind for his surroundings led him to a great knowledge of Dorset and its lesser known cycle routes, especially ‘County Roads’. Malcolm Howell
Join the conversation
Get immediate feedback from other CTC members on the CTC forum: forum.ctc.org.uk. Here’s an abridged extract from one popular thread before Cycle went to press (see tinyurl.com/q6v8tl3). WEARING A CAMERA Jughead: I think all cyclists should wear a cam easily visible to other road users. I have noticed a huge difference in how drivers treat me. I have a cam attached to the right hand side of the handlebars so that drivers can clearly see it. It really has made a difference with less dodgy overtaking. gaz: If fitting a camera makes motorists think twice about close overtakes why is there so much camera footage
of close overtakes? If your camera makes such a difference to the behaviour of other road users, why are you seeing more red-light-jumping cyclists? patricktaylor: I think the judge’s wig idea is better. All cyclists who don’t have long blonde hair should wear a judge’s wig.
downfader: As someone who uses cameras, I agree. The camera is too small to be noticed by a driver who is already inattentive. However, it has had its uses in a ‘calm down, mate, you’re on camera’ way a couple of times.
Graham: If I could get hold of a hi-vis vest printed, on the back, with ‘Camera Running’ Grumbleweed: My pal or ‘Camera On’, I would has a Czech goretex certainly wear it – even jacket that says ‘Polizia’ though I don’t carry a on the back. Seems to do camera when I’m riding the trick! my bike!
@CTC_Cyclists
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MY BIKE
A
Made it myself
CTC member Dave Ramsden built his own bike from scratch: a sturdy singlespeed that he’s used to explore the canal network
fter 40 years of building and riding motorcycles, I decided to switch to bicycles as my only means of transport. Before selling all my workshop equipment, I made my own bicycle. The techniques I used were those I learned making motorcycle frames, which hasn’t resulted in a particularly light bike, but it felt right as soon as I got on it. I had intended to build a bicycle using no cycle parts. But I soon discovered that bicycle wheels are in fact the best wheels for bicycles! The front one cost £3.25 on an internet auction site, and came with a tyre and a disc rotor. I built the rear on my own home-made hub. I fitted a cheap but effective mechanical disc calliper to the front and a pretty feeble old sidepull calliper to the rear. The main frame of the bike is off-the-shelf 30mm box-section steel tubing. The rear stays are round steel tube, with horizontal dropouts and chain tugs. The head tube and bottom bracket are also square section but with machined round inserts for the bearings. The fork is light steel tubing, braced for strength and style. I used a combination of MIG and TIG welding. Handlebars and bar clamps are motorcycle ones. The bike has a single fixed gear, using a 2 8 cyc le AP R IL/m aY 2014
modified motorcycle sprocket up front and a rear one I bought from my local bearing shop and machined up. I have no idea what the gearing is because I guessed it. I was lucky and it allows me to achieve a reasonable
“The home-made pedals use plastic bushes made from pieces of pop bottle” cruising speed and also to attack a modest hill standing up; steep hills mean walking. The home-made crank runs on two universal sealed bearings, also from the bearing shop. The home-made pedals use plastic bushes made from pieces of pop bottle. West Yorkshire is hilly for a singlespeed bike, but I am lucky to live two minutes from the Spen Valley Greenway, an old railway line that gives me easy access to two canals. On towpaths or the Greenway, a single gear is fine. And the canal network goes all over. Last June, I undertook my longest trip on the bike so far – from Cleckheaton to Carrog near Llangollen in North Wales. Armed with only a basic drawing of the canal system, I travelled via the Huddersfield
Broad, Huddersfield Narrow, Peak Forest, Macclesfield, Trent and Mersey, Shropshire Union and Llangollen canals. I arrived at Carrog two-and-a-half days later, having spent two nights in my bivvy bag at the canal-side. I discovered that some of the canal network is hard going by bike. I have done the trip since with my partner on our Rohloff-equipped Thorns, and it didn’t get any easier. Having said that, the Llangollen canal is reward enough, with two big aqueducts and two long unlit tunnels. I’m planning more long-distance trips. TECH SPEC Dave Ramsden’s DIY bike Frame: Steel. A combination of square and round tubing, MIG welded. Fork: Steel, braced and TIG welded, taperedroller steering head. Wheels: 26-inch Schwalbe Marathons on alloy rims, rear hub home made. Transmission: Single fixed-gear Brakes: Cable disc front, sidepull rear. Handlebar: Chromed steel motorcycle. Saddle: Brooks. Luggage: Carradice saddlebag. Elasticated net to hold my sleeping bag to the fork.
CTC &ME
Tom McClelland R.I.P.
CTC Northern Ireland campaigner Tom McClelland passed away as we were preparing this issue. Instead of the interview we planned, it is with sadness that we print his obituary instead
T
om McClelland, who passed away on 13 February 2014, was the consummate cycle campaigner: endearing, insightful, and highly effective. He was CTC’s Right to Ride campaigner for the whole of Northern Ireland, and his impact extended across the UK. He was a winner of CTC’s Volunteer of the Year award, and had recently been chosen to receive CTC’s Certificate of Merit. Tom was a passionate transport cyclist. He once arrived at a Royal Garden Party at Hillsborough Castle on a tandem with his wife Catherine (above). ‘The Prince of Wales came by helicopter,’ Tom said, ‘and there was a lot of car parking provision but none for cycles. I wanted to make the point that cycling is normal.’ Tom worked with politicians from all parties to get cycling on and further up the agenda of the Northern Ireland Assembly. In 2013, he helped establish an all-party cycling group at Stormont and set up a committee, along the lines of CTC Scotland. That same year, he single-handedly organised two highly-successful conferences on ‘Politically Painless Cycling’. These conferences 3 0 cyc le AP R IL/m aY 2014
enabled CTC to address audiences including the Minister for Regional Development, the chair of the key parliamentary committee, and the Mayor of Derry/Londonderry. It was through Tom’s efforts that CTC began working in Derry/ Londonderry as well as Belfast. Tom communicated constantly with opinion formers and policy makers on behalf of CTC. He secured important meetings for CTC with senior officials in the Northern Ireland government and put an astonishing network of contacts at our disposal. He also worked with Sustrans, Friends of the Earth, the NI Cycling Initiative, as well as colleagues in the Republic of Ireland in Cyclist.ie. CTC Campaigns Direct Roger Geffen said: ‘Tom had an amazing ability to forge contacts and get things done. One time, he persuaded the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Regional Development Committee, whose remit includes transport, to hold an inquiry session on cycling, inviting a Danish cycle campaigner and myself to give evidence. When I asked if there were any other key decision-makers in Northern Ireland we should speak to while there, Tom immediately set up meetings with the Road Safety Minister and the Regional Development
Minister – and that was just in the morning. In the afternoon, he arranged for us to give a presentation on cycling to around 30 NI government officials. And in the evening, he organised a well-attended public meeting with us as speakers. I had asked him to make good use of our time in Belfast – and boy, did he do so!’ Tom was an active campaigner in his own right, generating much of CTC’s media coverage in Belfast. He helped defeat the threat of a helmet law in Northern Ireland; he campaigned to keep taxis out of Belfast bus lanes; and he backed the introduction of 20mph speed limits. Indeed, Rod King MBE, the founder of the 20’s Plenty for Us, said that it was Tom who sowed the seeds for this campaign by persuading Rod to make a presentation at Velo-City 2005 on 20mph limits. ‘Tom has left us one last legacy,’ Geffen said. ‘Shortly before he died, he had persuaded the NI Regional Development Committee to hold a full-blown inquiry into the economic benefits of cycling and how to maximise these: effectively, a Northern Irish equivalent of “Get Britain Cycling”. We’ll now throw everything we can into ensuring that the outcome of this inquiry is a fitting epitaph to Tom’s campaigning.’
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Celtic cross countr y
photos benji haworth
celtic cross country The National Parks of Pembrokeshire, the Brecon Beacons, and Exmoor encompass some excellent offroad riding. That’s why XCalibre will be set there. Benji Haworth explains
Celtic cross country In the photo Exmoor is crisscrossed with bridleways and there’s lots of variety: woodland, moorland, clifftops… you can even paddle in the sea afterwards
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ow that the trails are drying out after the winter deluge, it’s time to plan some big summer rides. Why not avoid the honeypot destinations and explore somewhere that’s literally off the beaten track? We’re casting an eye over the riding opportunities in three snippets of the Celtic fringe: Exmoor, Pembrokeshire and the Brecon Beacons. All three are beautiful National Parks that offer something different from typical trail centre segments: wild moorland, craggy coastline, quiet woodland, neolithic stones, zip-along singletrack, white-knuckle rocky descents, and more. And all three will feature in this year’s inaugural XCalibre mountain bike event. XCalibre is a televised, seven-stage mountain bike competition, the first of its kind in the UK. CTC is one of the supporters of this new event. We’re not covering the race routes themselves; they’re top secret and can’t be ridden before the event. Instead, we’re hoping to show what these National Parks can offer, sketching out a taster ride or two in each.
is excellent singletrack. A brief vista over the sea at Countisbury sets you up for the return, slightly inland through the gladed Watersmeet wooded valley sides, and back into Lynton. But hold up. Don’t just drop down on the road to Lynton. Pick up a short but excellent singletrack descent heading down out of the back of a small hamlet called West Lyn; it pops out just above the Lynbridge caravan site and from there it is a straightforward drop down the speedy road into Lynton for an ice cream and a(nother) paddle. A good area to go for a little play and explore is at the eastern end of the Exmoor National Park: Horner Wood. It’s an area of steep-sided woodland that clings to the sides of the curvy valley formed by the river that runs along the bottom of it. There are numerous bridleways that head up, down and along the sides. If you want to extend your ride you can head out of the treeline and on to Dunkery Hill moorland.
FACT FILE
EXMOOR
Exmoor
The Lake District and the Peak District get more attention when it comes to mountain biking, but for my money it’s Exmoor that is the best National Park for off-road riding. Where else can a ride involve wild moorland, woodland singletrack, clifftop cruising… and a bit of paddling in the sea? Exmoor has the lot. About the only thing that Exmoor doesn’t have a lot of is flat stuff. A glance at the Ordnance Survey map reveals that the whole National Park is covered with tightly-packed contour lines. The abundance of bridleways crisscrossing Exmoor is impressive and inspiring. In fact, there’s so much to consider that it can be a bit daunting. Exmoor can be divided into two: the northern coastal half and the southern inland moorland half. There is a great route that takes in some of the highlights of both the northern and the southern halves. Begin at Lynton and head west through the fern-sided singletrack through the Valley of Rocks. Although rather early in the ride, it’ll be tempting to pop to the beach at Lee Bay for a paddle (and why not?). Then you’ll climb away from the sea up doubletrack to Woolhanger Common. Then it’s a case of crossing moorland on always-engaging tracks and trails over to Brendon Common. The ravine-side riding alongside Badgworthy Hill
Where to ride: ‘South West Mountain Biking’ by Nick Cotton and Tom Fenton (Vertebrate Graphics, v-publishing. co.uk). As well as a comprehensive bunch of Exmoor routes this compendium covers Dartmoor and the Quantocks.
Maps: OL9 Exmoor. Where to stay: Caffyns Farm, Lynton, EX35 6JY, 01598 741234, doonevalleyholidays. co.uk. Or Lynton Cottage Hotel, North Walk, Lynton, EX35 6ED, 01598 752342.
LYnton EXMOOR national park
somerset devon
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Celtic cross country
In the photos The rocky tracks of ‘The Gap’ in the Black Mountains are best enjoyed on a fullsuspension bike and in good weather
Brecon Beacons
Although the Brecon Beacons is a huge National Park, covering over 1,300 square kilometres, it’s best known among mountain bikers for one bit: the Black Mountains. If you’ve ridden in the Black Mountains before, you’ve typically had one of the two experiences: loved it or hated it. I’ve experienced both. My first trip wasn’t fun. I didn’t have the legs to deal with the epic climbs. I didn’t have the character to deal with the hellish weather that day. So I didn’t return there for years. But when I did, I had a cracking ride: blue skies, big smiles. The hills were still as massive but my fitness and attitude were both better. The Black Mountains are best done in fair weather and with a set route that’s accepted as a classic: The Gap (see mtbbreconbeacons.co.uk). It’s a big day in the saddle, only 24 miles but with lots of ascending – and descending. The tracks on the route are fairly weatherproof. They’ve been used for centuries and can withstand being ridden during or after a bit of rain. But it’s still best to avoid this route if there’s a grim forecast, because there’s no real shelter from the elements. The Gap’s tracks are wide and rocky, with little tree cover. You go through, up and over some of the most amazing scenery that Wales has to offer. Although your cornering skills may not be called on, you will have to be adept at dealing with steep gradients and loose surfaces. It’s a great ride to do with a few friends on a long, drawn-out summer day.
If the weather is looking a bit too wild, or you want somewhere to go for a blast-about, head over to Brechfa Forest trail centre. There’s no visitor centre or facilities, so you’ll need to go prepared, but the lack of development also helps to keep Brechfa a bit quieter than the other bigger trail centres in south Wales.
FACT FILE
Brecon Beacons Where to ride: Wales has plenty of websites devoted to mountain biking. The two best for these routes are mtbbreconbeacons.co.uk and mtb-wales.com Maps: OL12 Brecon Beacons West & Central and OL13 Brecon Beacons East.
Where to stay: Beacons Backpackers, New Inn, Bwlch, nr Brecon, LD6 7RQ, 01874 730215, beaconsbackpackers. co.uk. Or The White Hart Inn & Bunkhouse, Talybont-on-Usk, Brecon, Powys LD3 7JD, 01874 676227, breconbunkhouse.co.uk
WALES BLACK MOUNTAINS
“The gap’s tracks are wide and rocky, with little tree cover. it’s a great ride on a summer day”
brecon beacons
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Celtic cross countr y
In the photos Ride the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire when it’s dry as they can get boggy. Plus, the views are fantastic on a clear day
Ride XCalibre
Pembrokeshire
‘Pembrokeshire’ conjures up images of beaches and craggy coastline, sandcastles and surfers. Cycling, particularly off-road, doesn’t spring to mind. And it’s true that the mountain biking opportunities are limited, compared with some National Parks. The coastline may be gnarled and rugged but once you come inland it’s farmed and flatter. That is until you reach the Preseli Hills: a modest-looking but surprisingly demanding ridge of connected summit points set amidst some of the most ancient-feeling and beautifully barren landscapes in the whole of the UK. The Preseli Hills loom up seemingly out of nowhere. They always appear to be differently lit from their surrounding flatlands: when the lowlands are bright, the Preselis are dark and dramatic; when the lowlands are dull and dank, the sun brightly illuminates the hills like a beacon. The riding, although sparse and only enough for one full day, is really entertaining. The spine formed by the aligned summits of Foel Eryr, Foel Feddau and Bwlch Ungwr makes up the main meal of a Preseli Hills ride. It’s best to attempt the ridge during a dry spell as it’s pretty soggy going when wet. Once on top, you make your way along sunken singletrack and wider, faster rollercoaster tracks. You really need to look around you as you ride or you’ll miss the magic of the area. Huge panoramic vistas, wild white ponies and the famous Preseli standing stones. (The ‘bluestones’ of Stonehenge came from these hills.) You can approach the Preselis from the north or the south to make up a decent day’s loop. From the north, start from Newport, pass by Mynydd Carningli before ascending to the Preseli Hills proper, and finish with pleasant farm tracks and minor roads through Crosswell and Pentre Ifan. Starting from the south, begin at Rosebush and head up on to 3 8 cyc le ap ril/m ay 2014
the hills via Pantmaenog Forest, ride the ridge, and come down into Mynachlog-ddu, return to Rosebush via the standing stones circle of Gors Fawr. If you want a half-day’s easy pedalling, you can cruise around the Llys-y-Frân trail, a 12km circuit of a reservoir set in parkland and mature woodland.
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Pembrokeshire Where to ride: ‘Wales Mountain Biking’ by Tom Hutton (Vertebrate Graphics, v-publishing. co.uk) is handy. The Preseli Hills get a route devoted to them and there are plenty more routes just outside the National Park that may be an option too.
Maps: OS Explorer Map OL35 North Pembrokeshire. Where to stay: A recommended cyclistfriendly B&B is Y Garth, Cae Tabor, Dinas Cross, Newport SA42 0XR, 01348 811777, bedandbreakfastpembrokeshire.co.uk
WALES Preseli Hills pembrokeshire
This seven-stage mountain bike event takes riders across Pembrokeshire, the Brecon Beacons and Exmoor from the 16-23 August. Teams of two riders will tackle three differing mountain bike disciplines: marathon, cross-country, and enduro. The event will include night-time stages, a prologue time trial, and a mass start 60-kilometre loop. XCalibre will be shown on ITV4. Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of XCalibre organisers SweetSpot, said: ‘The challenge for riders taking part is unrivalled, with XCalibre giving riders the opportunity to ride in some spectacular locations on routes created just for the event.’ The two-rider format, similar to events such as the Cape Epic and the TransAlp, will ensure a shared experience through the highs and the lows during 200km of trails. Team entry for XCalibre costs £1,800 (£900 per rider). Riders will receive: food and accommodation, fullystocked feed stations, neutral service en route, a mechanics’ station in the event village, seven stages of previouslyunridden routes, XCalibre kit bag, giveaways and more. xcalibremtb.co.uk
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Main photo The Antrim coast is ideal for touring after the Giro departs Below Mark Cavendish on the front in Arezzo, Italy, in the 2012 Giro
2014 Giro d’Italia
photos chris Juden & istockphoto
In the pink? Above: Chris Juden
The 2014 Giro d’Italia starts in Belfast. Might this help catalyse cycling there? Dan Joyce spoke to Tim Edgar, CTC’s Cycling Development Officer for the city
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he first maglia rosa of 2014, the pink leader’s jersey of the Giro d’Italia, will be awarded in the capital of Northern Ireland, where the first two stages start and finish. It’s a coup for the city. But what will the impact be of the race in the weeks and months after this grand tour has moved on? Helicopter shots of the peloton traversing the countryside are always good publicity. ‘RCS, the Italian owners of the Giro d’Italia, loved the Irish roads, saying that they are some of the best they have seen,’ said Tim. ‘They’re seldom straight or flat, meandering through a landscape of small hills to the next town or village. It’s also a small country, so tourists can cycle and see a lot even on a short stay.’ As proof of this, stage two of the race goes
from Belfast up to the north coast, passing by the Giant’s Causeway, and back again down the Antrim coast. TV, tourism, and try-outs
‘The TV coverage should show off our beautiful countryside and landmarks, inspiring future visits,’ Tim said. ‘The Giro is estimated to return about £10m for a £2.5m initial investment. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board expects 140,000 visitors, based upon available beds in hotels and B&Bs.’ There is hope that the media focus on cycling will encourage ordinary people to get on their bikes, to improve their health or simply to get from A to B. CTC is involved in this legacy work. ‘It should offer a landmark opportunity for change,’ said Tim. ‘CTC will be partnering with Belfast City Council at the Giro Festival
to celebrate all things cycling and Italian. “Try it” cycling sessions with be available to locals and visitors at the festival hub. Restaurants will offer pizza, Italian coffee and biscotti.’ This carnival atmosphere will be complemented by practical cycle promotion. ‘Trial public cycle hire bikes and docking stations will be set up by prospective suppliers of public cycle hire schemes during the Giro weekend,’ Tim said. ‘CTC sits on the Public Cycle Hire project board, representing the needs of cyclists and prospective cyclists. [After the race] we will continue to work with the council and other board members to promote engagement and active travel behaviour change.’ Getting kids on bikes
The Giro also represents an opportunity to promote cycling to children, for leisure and for cycling to school. ‘A schools resource pack has been adapted and is being made available to more than 280 schools neighbouring the Giro route,’ Tim said. Children are enthusiastic about cycling to begin with. CTC has evidence of this first hand in Northern Ireland, having begun a partnership with Belfast City Council in 2010 to run CTC’s Bike Club project. Youth cycling groups were set up across CTC. O R G . U K cyc l e 41
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2014 Giro d’Italia
the sectarian divide, on The Falls Road (a largely republican area) and the nearby Shankill Road (largely loyalist). ‘The Falls and Shankill Roads of Belfast have a notorious association with the troubles in Northern Ireland,’ Tim said. ‘Both areas have high levels of deprivation, and the outcomes for young people tend to be poor – in terms of education, health, employment and social behaviour.’ Yet both Bike Clubs have been a great success. ‘The Falls Park Bike Club is led by council parks outreach officer, Michael Culbert,’ Tim said. ‘He’s an enthusiastic character who wanted to provide cycling activities alongside their varied park programmes with schools, sports clubs and community groups.’ And he did exactly that. ‘The Shankill Area Project Bike Club is led by Mark McBride, a senior youth worker with Belfast Education and Library Board. Mark works with Noel Maguire, who is passionate about what mountain biking can do for young people, since it’s something they really enjoy. The Shankhill club beat their first-year target of working with 300 young people in four months.’ Planning your NI rides
If you’re travelling to Belfast to watch the Giro in person, it’s worth bringing a bike. As soon as the race caravan has departed, you can explore the roads that the pros raced on – and much more. I asked Tim where he’d recommend visiting by bike, for anyone who had a day or two to spare. ‘Definitely head for the Dromara hills, and ride through the foothills and into the Mourne Mountains. The author CS Lewis once said of this area of natural beauty: “I felt a giant could walk around from the next hill at any moment.” The landscape partly inspired the Chronicles of Narnia. ‘If you have another day, get the train – or cycle like the professionals – from Belfast to Portrush. Ride along the Giant’s Causeway coast towards Bushmills, home to that famous whiskey. Enjoy the views across White Park Bay, then carry on to Ballycastle, Murlough Bay, and Torr Head, the closest point to Scotland. Then head back down the Antrim Coast road to Larne.’ 4 2 cyc le AP R IL/M AY 2014
Above Expect helicopter shots of the Giant’s Causeway as stage two passes by Below Edward Carson’s statue at Stormont is an ideal vantage point for the team time trial
Watching the Giro The first three stages of the 2014 Giro d’Italia take place in Ireland: the first two wholly in Northern Ireland, and stage three crossing the border into the Republic of Ireland. Stage 1 on Friday 9 May is a 21.7km team time trial through Belfast. It starts in the Titanic Quarter in the city centre and heads out along Newtonards Road and Upper Newtonards Road to Stormont. It then returns the way it came until it nears the River Lagan. Crossing that, it heads south on Oxford Street, looping around to finish on Donegall Square North. Stage 2 also starts and finishes in Belfast but is 218km long. The race heads inland to Antrim and then north towards Portrush. There’s an intermediate sprint at Bushmills, then the race comes back down the Antrim coast, with Category 4 climbs at Cushendall Road
(125.9km) and Knocknagulliagh (194.4km). Stage 3 is 187km, from Armagh to Dublin. It snakes over Category 4 climbs at Markethill Summit (32.1km)and Fews Forest (51km) in Northern Ireland, before heading south and crossing the border into (and through) Dundalk. There’s an intermediate sprint at Castlebellingham (97.3km), then it’s on to the finish in Dublin via Balbriggan. Tim Edgar says: ‘For the team time trial, I’m heading to Carson’s statue which stands in front of the Northern Ireland Assembly building at Stormont. Not because of its notable location, but because it’s the steepest part of the course with a long 10% climb. That should slow the teams down enough for me to savour the fact the Giro is on home soil!’ For more details, visit girostart2014.com
where Glasgow, Scotland Start & finish Radisson Blu hotel, Argyle Street Distance 11 miles (or more) words Peter Hayman pictures Scottish Cycling & Peter Hayman
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Game plan for Glasgow
The day after CTC’s AGM, guided rides will visit the 2014 Commonwealth Games cycling venues. Peter Hayman urges you to come and enjoy cycling in Glasgow this May
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his year is the ideal time to visit Glasgow. The Commonwealth Games are coming, bringing high-profile cycling events to the city in July and August. There will be track racing at the new Sir Chris Hoy velodrome, mountain bike racing on the new trails at Cathkin Braes, and time trials on the roads to the north and east. Glasgow city centre will then be the backdrop for the road race, just as it was for the 2013 National Road Race Championships, when over 30,000 spectators watched Lizzie Armitstead and Mark Cavendish clinch the coveted striped jerseys. It should be a fantastic spectacle. And you can get a preview if you’re coming to CTC’s AGM in Glasgow on 10 May (see pages 12 and 16). Among the guided rides the day after the AGM, there will be some with a distinct Commonwealth Games flavour. You’ll be able to visit – and ride on – the wooden boards of the velodrome and the purpose-built mountain bike
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In The Photos 1) The ‘test event’ for the Commonwealth Games road race circuit was the 2013 National Road Race Championships 2) Lizzie Armitstead won the women’s race, while Mark Cavendish won the men’s
singletrack. You’ll even be able to ride the route of the road race through the city. So bring your bike or hire one when you get here. Glasgow’s changing face The sporting spotlight isn’t the only reason to visit Glasgow. The city has made great strides in boosting everyday cycling. Since 2007, when the Commonwealth Games bid was won, there has been solid growth in the numbers of people cycling: a 127% increase overall, averaging 20% growth per year. Glasgow now has a Strategic Plan for Cycling, with its own ‘cycling tsar’ on the city council. Glasgow City Council endorsed the Scottish Government’s targets of ‘10% of journeys by bike by 2020’, and there is now a Glasgow cycle forum, which engages closely with CTC, GoBike campaigners, Sustrans, and other cycling interest groups. You can get a sense Glasgow’s efforts for everyday
GLASGOW great rides
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cycling on the back of the Commonwealth Games developments in the council’s YouTube film ‘A Cycling Legacy’: tinyurl.com/pgl3kwn Aside from cycling, Glasgow is well worth visiting as a tourist destination in its own right. Glasgow was a Georgian mercantile hub and then became the second city of the Empire in the Victorian Age, making ships and trains for the whole world. The city’s hard image in the 20th century changed with the Garden Festival in 1988, a softening that was affirmed when it inherited the mantle of European City of Culture in 1990. Nowadays Glasgow is a city of art, with six Turner prize winners and nine nominees. It’s also a UNESCO ‘City of Music’ – one of only five worldwide. According to TripAdvisor reviews, it’s the best place to shop outside London’s West End, and the third most highly rated UK destination. Welcome to Glasgow The local CTC Glasgow Member Group will be leading a selection of rides on the Sunday morning after the AGM. Hire bikes can be arranged. There will be traditional touring rides out to the north and south of the city, into glorious Scottish countryside. A shorter trip will head along the banks of the Clyde to visit the Transport Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid, which was named 2013 European Museum of the Year, then on to the family-friendly and popular baroque
WATCHING THE GAMES For full details on the all of the Commonwealth Games events, visit glasgow2014.com. The cycling events run from 24 July to 3 August. Track cycling is on from Thursday 24 July-Sunday 27 July, with tickets (if still available) £90. The MTB Cross Country races are on Tuesday 29 July; tickets are (if still available) £15. The Individual Time Trials and Road Races are free events that you can watch from the roadside, on Thursday 31 July and Sunday 3 August respectively.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. For AGM visitors staying longer, there will be a week-long tour of the Outer Hebrides on offer, starting on Monday 12 May. There will be several Games-themed cycling opportunities on the Sunday. You could try out the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome on a track-cycling taster session. Or you could visit the Cathkin Braes mountain bike trails, which are only 20 minutes away by bike. The trails have a range of differently-graded features, allowing beginners to have a go or challenging experienced riders. Help is being arranged for those wanting to ride here. A guided ride will trace the road race route through the city. The course was designed partly to show off the city to a worldwide television audience. This makes following it ideal for a close-quarters tour of the city’s sites of interests. The roads will be open to traffic on 11 May, which does mean some annoying traffic lights and one-way streets. But most of it will still be ridable and will give a flavour of what the elite athletes face. Our ride will be taken at a more leisurely pace, of course! It’s not a race (this time) The guided rides will begin at 10:00am outside the Radisson Blu hotel, the venue for the CTC AGM and Annual Dinner. It is about a mile east along the Clyde to get to the road race’s start point on Glasgow Green, near the People’s Palace and Winter Garden. Cycling is allowed around Glasgow Green and through Kelvingrove Park, as it is in all the 90 parks in Glasgow. (Some recent proposals to tighten the regulations are being resisted.) Another Scottish freedom comes from our access legislation. That required ‘core path’ networks to be set up, mainly to specify ‘desire lines’ for getting
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Opposite & above: courtesy of Scottish Cycling
“You’ll be able to visit – and ride – the new Cathkin Braes singletrack and the wooden boards of the velodrome”
GLASGOW great rides
FACT FILE
CTC AGM rides Venue: CTC’s AGM is on Saturday 10 May at Radisson Blu hotel, 301 Argyle Street, Glasgow G2 8DL, 0141 204 3333, radissonblu.co.uk/ Glasgow. See also pages 12 and 16.
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Rides: CTC Glasgow will host a selection of rides and Commonwealth Games try-outs. Contact secretary John Foster (01555 759102, jlfoster40@btinternet. com) for a printed rides programme, or visit ctcglasgow.org.uk.
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“The road race course was designed partly to show off the city to a worldwide television audience” around on foot, bike, horse or non-motor boats. In Glasgow, that means we now have a statutory right to go against the flow of the one-way section of Argyle Street and up the iconic pedestrianised Buchanan shopping street, because they are both designated core paths. Cycling among pedestrians is slow at busy times and needs extra care, but the system works well. Glasgow does have some hilly bits and the race course hunts these out. We should be all right as we will be doing them only once at a touring pace, rather than racing around the 14km (8.7mile) circuit. The men will do 12 laps of this, covering 167km (104 miles), while the women will do seven (98km or 61 miles). Elite racing cyclists no doubt see a short steep bit as an attacking opportunity and won’t have much time for or concern with the delights of the city flashing by. We, on the other hand, can take our time to enjoy the city, its history and what it has to offer now. The idea of the ride is to combine what both the City of Glasgow and the Commonwealth Games Road Race have to offer. If either or both of these stir an interest and appreciation, why not come back again in the summer, along with the rest of the world, to enjoy the full show?
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In The Photos 3) Edmund Stewart, chair or CTC Glasgow (in red without a hat) and some of the regulars outside the Winter Gardens, with its café 4) GoBike ride setting off across the Millennium bridge
When: All rides are on Sunday 11 May, following the CTC AGM, except the tour of the Outer Hebrides which starts on Monday 12 May. Where: Assemble at 10:00 outside the Radisson Blu hotel (address above). Accommodation: As well as the Radisson Blu hotel (see above), there is lots of other accommodation. See visitscotland.com/ glasgow-clyde-valley for options. If you want budget accommodation, there are a couple of hostels: SYHA, 7/8 Park Terrace, Glasgow,
0141 332 3004, glasgow@ syha.org.uk; euro hostel, 318 Clyde Street, G1 4NR, 0845 539 9956, glasgow@ euro-hostels.co.uk Cafés: Almost everywhere as part of the Glasgow cosmopolitan city culture. Bike shops: South West Community Cycles, Pollokshaws, West Railway Station, 2092 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, G43 1AT, 07711 36 55 36, southwest communitycycles.co.uk/ hire/ Billy Bilsland Cycles, 176 Saltmarket, Glasgow, G1 5LA, 0141 552 0841, sales@billybilslandcycles. co.uk Dales Cycles Ltd, 150 Dobbies Loan, Glasgow, G4 0JE, 0141 332 2705, jonathan.lamberton@ dalescycles.com or erik@ dalescycles.com Gear Bikes, 19 Gibson St, G12 8NU, 0141 339 1179, sales@gearbikes.com Tiso Glasgow Outdoor Experience, 50 Couper Street, G4 0DL, 0141 559 5466, glasgow_oe@ alpinebikes.co.uk. Cyclonauts, 111 West George St, Glasgow, G2 1QX, 07982 193997.
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xx’ XCxyxcxlixsts Xcxaxféxsx
photos Rob ai nsley, jason pati e nt, ctc cam bri dg e
Café to café C
afés: we all have our favourites. I like the quirky ones: the Doncaster back garden on the Trans Pennine Trail (Threeways café, Braithwaite); the unstaffed ‘honesty box’ one in a church hall in Blacktoft, west of Hull; the fantastically remote, welcoming Crask Inn, on the single-track A836 in Scotland’s far north... But what defines a cyclists’ café? These days, it seems, you can’t open a city-centre bike shop without it being, in quotes, a ‘cycle café’: a modern hybrid where you can get your wheel trued en route to work, enjoy a barista espresso, and update your Facebook status. Workstands and cappucinos
The archetype of the nouveau urban chic is Look Mum No Hands! in central London, which opened on Old Street in spring 2010. The weekday winter afternoon I visit, it’s packed with stylish-casual professionals of young-family age talking about metropolitan things in various languages. The café is decorated with bicycle bits; upmarket bike-pattern wrapping paper is on sale; snazzy, high-design cycling mags (Boneshaker, Rouleur) are there for browsing. A screen shows recent bike 4 8 cyc le ap r il/may 2014
racing over an alpine range. Cool poprock plays. Tablet-surfers enjoy £2.80 cappuccinos and artisan pork pies. And – discreetly – there’s a workshop too. Two early-twenties women tell me they’re regulars, the cyclist one because it’s ‘friendly and easy to park’, the noncyclist one because it’s ‘great for working’. That would please the co-founder Sam, who chats to me between organising repairs. He wanted an inclusive place that welcomes all sorts of cyclists: ‘There’s something about cyclists that makes the place inherently friendly,’ he says. ‘I wanted to offer a workshop with a relaxed social side – somewhere you could easily park and not feel like a weirdo because you’ve arrived by bike. They show football in pubs, so I wanted to show the Tour!’ He and his colleagues spent years waiting for a suitable site, and LMNH has a courtyard with racks for dozens of bikes – a rarity in London. City café-shops
LMNH isn’t alone, and other ‘cycle cafés’ have their own character. In Islington, Micycle offers a coffee-garden and bike wash. Nearby Cyclelab targets the sporty city worker, selling bespoke fruit juices alongside mid- to top-range road bikes. Just
Main photo: jason@cycling-images.co.uk
Good cafés are more than fuel stops; they’re part of the social fabric of cycling. Rob Ainsley peruses the menu for success
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off Piccadilly Circus, Rapha sells exclusive, high-cachet cycle clothes to the affluent, alongside posh cakes, coffees, and bike films on HD screens; even the toilets boast Rapha-branded gels and unguents. Over the river in south London, Cycle PS in Kennington fixes three punctures each morning for commuters on the CS7 cycle superhighway, who sip proper coffee while they wait. The company’s friendly Camberwell branch addresses a more studenty market, opening late and selling inexpensive premium draught lager; the chirpy, beanie-hatted young guy in charge, Harvey, jokes that he has to be ‘mechanic, barista, pizza chef and manager!’
In the photo 1 The Dalesman Café in Gargrave, North Yorkshire 2 Cyclelab, in central London 3 Cycle PS’s Kennington branch, in southcentral London
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xx’ XCxyxcxlixsts Xcxaxféxsx
In the photos 4 The celebrated Eureka café has been a refuelling hub for cyclists for over 80 years 5 Roadside pitstops, like Adam’s café on the A143, offer good portions and good value
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Why did all of these set up as cyclecafés, rather than just cycle-shops? All told me much the same story: because they can offer something the large chains such as Halfords and Evans can’t: a distinct atmosphere, a hyper-local experience, individual attention. Somewhere you’d keep cycling back to. All are keen to welcome first-time commuters, particularly women. The new style is neither restricted to London, nor that new. Mud Dock café in Bristol has been going since the last century; C2C riders can celebrate finishing in Newcastle at The Hub near the Millennium Bridge; in my local York, Your Bike Shed has just opened with its own take on the workshop/café mix, with pictures on the wall simulating what the Tour de France peloton will look like this summer.
1928. It’s still thriving. The first rider to arrive, around 9.15am, is Ann, a triathlete who’s been cycling two years. ‘I love the friendly, supportive atmosphere here,’ she says. From 9.30am a steady trickle of road bikes of various ages arrives, and by 10am the place is packed out with around 70 cyclists – and only cyclists: a blur of yellow and red tops and lycraed legs, to the benign din of a dozen conversations on everything from the day’s route to football to gossip to politics. I chat easily and equably about all sorts, to all sorts from (as I later discover) CEOs to long-term
Cyclists Welcome
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Winged wheel in Corwen, by Glennys Hammond
Club-run cafés
But if your idea of a ‘cycle café’ is more teaand-cake in a village on the club run, don’t worry: the traditional style is still going strong. Half a country away in the Wirral – just north enough of Chester to get you warmed up on a chilly weekday morning – I visit a very different, more traditional, sort of place. Brown ‘local attraction’ road signs point to an unprepossessing hut by a middle-of-nowhere roundabout with Formica tables, gingham PVC tablecloths, HP sauce and ketchup. On sale are gloves, leggings, spares and cleaning agents… even a few inviting-looking road bikes. This is Eureka, a hub for local club cyclists since
“by 10am the place is packed with around 70 cyclists – and only cyclists”
one of CTC’s oldest membership services was identifying and brokering suitable refreshments and board from hostelries across the land. Many were identifiable by the cast iron ‘Winged Wheel’ CTC logo mounted on the wall. The successor to this service is Cyclists Welcome, soon to have a revamped website: cyclistswelcome.co.uk. Cyclists Welcome is a searchable online database listing a wide range of cyclist-friendly establishments – B&Bs, hostels, hotels, bike shops, cafés and cycle hire operators. Visit cyclistswelcome.co.uk if you’re planning a trip. Or recommend your favourite establishment for a free listing.
Cyclists’ cafés
favourite CTC cafés The experts on cycling cafés in any given area are CTC Member Groups; some even list good cafés on their websites. We asked all Member Group secretaries to pick their favourites; many thanks to those who did.
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unemployed. As cyclists, we’re all equals. There are several rides for half-a-dozen clubs starting here today, some with predetermined routes, others to be decided. Five dozen mugs of tea are simultaneously generated by three staff, plus a variety of cakes, baps, beans on toasts, and the odd full English. Most riders are 60-plus, but there’s vibrant, smiling energy everywhere. If this is what retirement is like, bring it on. Anne Peek (a cyclist, of course) runs the café. (There’s also a cycle shop down the road; they sponsor promising young local cyclists.) After the last rider departs, around 11am, she can talk in the lull before the lunch-slot returnees. ‘It’s the cyclists who make the café,’ she says. ‘A nice friendly place to meet and chat.’ Most people come in for a fuelling snack – ‘beans and a spare’ (beans on toast), or homemade soups and cakes. Welcoming cyclists
Such places boost local economies. Backof-a-napkin guesses suggest that if 50,000 riders each weekend spend an average of £5 each, that’s £10m a year; the actual figure may be many times that. Not much compared to roadbuilding budgets maybe, but it all goes into real people’s pockets, and an annual ‘rural business grant’ of that magnitude would be rightly celebrated. But their importance goes beyond that. ‘Cafés are not merely a refuelling stop,’ says Nigel Deakin, a stalwart of Cambridge CTC. ‘They’re the pegs on which to hang a ride.’ Typically, when they’re planning a route, the first decision is the café stops: ‘Without at least one, a circular bike ride would be empty.’ An all-day Sunday ride might start at 9am, stop about 11am for morning coffee, take lunch around 1pm, and stop for afternoon tea about 4pm. ‘One of the things that makes a good café,’ says Nigel, ‘is the feeling that we are welcome.’ That’s strongly reflected in the opinions on cafés of cycling chums I consult. Abundant, convenient cycle parking – perhaps next to outdoor tables so you can keep an eye on the bikes – matters too. Twenty minutes to half an hour seems the right sort of break: long enough for a rest but not so long you start to seize
SCOTLAND dumfries & galloway The Green Tea House Moniaive, green-teahouse.co.uk
Peterborough The Old Barn Mill Lane, Wadenhoe, Nr Oundle, PE8 5XD
Glasgow Strathaven Tea Room 12-16 Common Green, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, ML10 6AF
Suffolk The Diner at Bentwaters Bentwater Parks, Rendlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 2TW
Grampian Flora’s Shop & Restaurant Crossroads, Cullerlie, Westhill, Aberdeenshire, AB32 6XB Highland Velocity Café and Bicycle Workshop 1 Crown Avenue, Inverness, IV2 3NF, velocitylove.co.uk
Tayside The Hamelt Tearoom The Square, Letham, Angus, DD8 2PZ
theoldbarnatwadenhoe.co.uk
thedineratbentwaters.co.uk
West Norfolk Norton Café Bar Holt Road, Little Walsingham, Norfolk, NR22 6BP
http://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/ hospitality/refectory_catering.htm
LONDON South West London Bike Beans Cycle Café 5B Rectory Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2BA bikebeans.co.uk
WALES Chester & North Wales Tilly’s NORTH EAST Coffee Shop teesside Stamps Coffee House Bunbury Lane, Bunbury, Cheshire, CW6 9QS 107 High St, Great Ayton, North Yorkshire Pembrokeshire Freewheelers Castlemartin Community Café Community Hall, Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, SA71 5HN castlemartincommunitycafé.co.uk
Swansea & West Wales Caffi Cynnes Coalbrook Road, Pontyberem SA15 5HU EAST MIDLANDS Alfreton The Tor Café Derby Road, Cromford, DE4 3RP Coventry Hatton Locks Café Canal Lane, Hatton, Warwickshire, CV35 7JL hattonlockscafe.co.uk Derby and Burton Beth’s Kitchen Breedon Priory Garden Centre, Ashby Rd, Breedon on the Hill, DE73 8AZ breedon-priory.co.uk/Beth-s-Kitchen.html
Leicestershire & Rutland Beehive Honey Pot Tearooms Rosliston, Derbyshire, DE12 8HZ, beehivefarm-woodlandlakes.co.uk
Nottinghamshire Stonehurst Family Farm & Museum Loughborough Rd, Mountsorrel, Leics, LE12 7AR EASTERN bedfordshire Southill Village Tearoom 55 High Street, Southill, SG18 9JB,
NORTH WEST Eden Valley The Old Smithy Tea Room Caldbeck, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 8EL Fylde The Barn The Square, Scorton, Near Garstang, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 1AU plantsandgifts.co.uk
Peak Audax The Old Smithy Church Street, Monyash, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1JH oldsmithymonyash.co.uk
South Manchester Woodbine Café 18 Castleton Road, Hope, S33 6RD, woodbinecafe.freeserve.co.uk
Two Mills (The Wirral) Eureka Cyclists’ Café Two Mills, Parkgate Road, Woodbank, Chester, CH1 6EZ eurekacyclistscafe.co.uk SOUTH EAST Arun & Adur Queen’s Head The Hollow, West Chiltington, Pulborough, RH20 2JN queensheadsussex.co.uk
Chiltern Hills Café in the Woods Wendover Woods, St Leonards Road, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 5NF cafeinthewoods.co.uk
East Sussex Wesson’s Café High Street, Horam, East Sussex,TN21 0ER,
southillvillagetearoom.co.uk
wessonscafe.com
Chelmsford The Blue Egg Braintree Road, Great Bardfield, Essex, CM7 4PY theblueegg.co.uk
Oxfordshire Waterfront Café Benson, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 6SJ waterfrontcafe.co.uk
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Cyclists’ cafés
In the photos 6 Chic urban café Look Mum No Hands, on Old St, London 7 Your Bike Shed in York
up. Cyclist-friendly ambience is the key, rather than quality of food and drink. Different kinds of café
Nigel cites four main types of café stop. There’s the roadside transport café, typically catering to both motorbikers and cyclists, with low prices – £5 gets you more than you can probably eat. Then there’s the classic modern (and pricy) coffee shop, where £5 buys a coffee and a cake from the wide ranges of both. Proprietors are aware of how much of their Sunday custom comes from groups of cyclists and give them a warm welcome. There’s the urban greasy spoon, typically in small towns. These will also serve fried breakfasts, though cyclists might be more likely to order beans on toast. And fourth, for decades CTC Cambridge has visited country pubs for a pre-ordered fixed-price tea (tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes). ‘When I first rode with CTC in the late 1990s,’ says Nigel, ‘we had a pub tea like this almost every week.’ There are still other sub-types: National Trust places (pricy); volunteer-run cafés, often with a church connection (cheap and popular); cafés in forestry parks, accommodating mountain bikers… One difference among cycle cafés of all kinds, I think, is how the patrons arrive. Those where cyclists turn up in the car with the bikes on the back don’t have the same buzz as cafés like Eureka. A post-ride refreshment stop is subtly different from a ‘destination’ café. So what makes a cycle café? For me, it’s one that people cycle to. What makes a good cycle café? One that’s worth cycling to. The new, chichi urban cycle café may grab media coverage, but the old-style places to build into your ride are still out there to enjoy. 5 2 cyc le ap r il/may 2014
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favourite CTC cafés continued Portsmouth Village Shop & Tea Room devon/the-orangery-restaurant/20/ Compton, West Sussex, PO18 9HA Stroud Valley The Lockkeeper’s southdowns-tearoom.co.uk Café Bar Wallbridge, Stroud, GL5 3JS lkcafebar.co.uk Reading The Avenue Restaurant The Avenue, Lasham, Alton, Hants, GU34 WEST MIDLANDS 5SU avenuenurseries.com Heart of England Hatton Locks Café South Bucks Waterfront Café Canal Lane, Hatton, Warwickshire, CV35 Benson, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 6SJ 7JL hattonlockscafe.co.uk waterfrontcafe.co.uk South Bucks Midweek Jenny Wrens Wombourne Halfpenny Green Airport 28 Market Sq, Winslow, Bucks, MK18 3AB Crab Lane, Bobbington, Stourbridge, DY7 5DY wolverhamptonairport.co.uk Swale Beano’s Café 12 North Lane, Canterbury, CT2 7EB YORKSHIRE & THE HUMBER East Yorkshire World Peace Café Wantage Saddleback Farm Shop Buddhist Centre, Kilnwick Percy, California Farm, Brightwalton, RG20 7HR Pocklington, YO42 1UF saddlebackfarmshop.co.uk worldpeacecafepocklington.org.uk
West Surrey The Dabbling Duck Middle Street, Shere, Surrey GU5 9HF thedabblingduck.uk.com
SOUTH WEST Bath Allington Café Allington Bar Farm, Allington, Wiltshire, SN14 6LJ allingtoncafe.co.uk Blackmore Vale Wheathill Garden Centre Tea Rooms Wheathill Lane, Milborne Port, Sherborne, DT9 5EY wheathillgardencentre.co.uk Cycle Bristol Banwell Castle Banwell, Somerset, BS29 6NX banwellcastle.co.uk
Devon The Walled Garden Church Cottage, Dunsford, EX6 7AA churchcottagedunsford.co.uk
Exeter Orangery Restaurant South Town, Kenton, Exeter, Devon, EX6 8JE houseofmarbles.com/about/family-fun-
Huddersfield & District Cornerhouse Café 4, Station Rd, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 1AB thecornerhouse@btconnect.com Sheffield District Longnor Craft Centre Coffee Shop, Market Square, Longnor, SK17 0NT longnorcrafts.co.uk York Seaways Café Fridaythorpe, York, YO25 9RX seawayscafefridaythorpe.co.uk
AFFILIATED GROUPS Bikefitsurrey.co.uk Bike Beans Cycle Café 5B Rectory Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2BA bikebeans.co.uk Sotonia CC Dandys Ford Fishery & Tea Rooms Dandys Ford Lane, Sherfield-English, nr Romsey, Hants, SO51 6DT
where Utah & Colorado, western United States Start Cedar City, Utah finish Bayfield, Colorado Distance 577 miles words Paul Lloyd pictures Paul Lloyd
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Way out West
Touring for two weeks in the American West, CTC member Paul Lloyd and his brother Pete relished a peaceful wilderness of rocky canyons and big skies
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itting on top of the pass at Salvation Knoll (7,110 feet), I could see snow-covered mountains to the east. From this point in the 1880s, a group of Mormon scouts, lost and out of food, at last recognised where they were. They could see their destination, the Blue Mountains, ten miles away. Hence ‘Salvation Knoll’. For us, it was a vantage point. We could look back over the rocky landscape of the southern Canyonlands of Utah, which we had been cycling through for ten days. The monumental scale of the American West gives a new dimension to cycle touring. The distant horizons make you very aware of being a small part of a much bigger picture. Maybe the pioneers felt the same way. The Western Express My brother Pete lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and had been trying to persuade me for years to join him touring in the American West. The Adventure Cycling Association
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In The Photos 1) Storms further to the east, photographed from Hite 2) The road up to White Canyon on highway 95 3) Canyonlands below Cedar Breaks National Monument
(ACA) has the route across Utah scoped out as part of a longer trans-America route from San Francisco to Virginia, called the Western Express Cycle Route. The ACA map described our route as ‘very difficult’, due the lack of water, the temperature extremes, and the climbing. We started by taking it easy, however. We set off just below the Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah, part way up a very steep 4,500 feet climb out of Cedar City. I was keen to start at the bottom in Cedar City but Pete cautioned against such a steep ascent on the first day. As we climbed, we passed roadside viewpoints giving spectacular views down through the deeply-eroded rock canyons to the valley bottom. From the top of the pass, we had an exciting 3,000 foot descent back down to Panguich on the other side. Speeding along at 30-40mph it felt more like downhill skiing than riding. There was little traffic, so we could enjoy the sweeping curves. Drinking in the landscape Our up-and-down route to Torrey took us north-east for 150 miles, mainly along the Utah highway 12. This stretch of road marks a boundary between two contrasting landscapes. To the north is the Dixie National Forest. To the south, where we were headed, the Grand Escalante Staircase National Monument: eroded rock canyons the colour of sand; no vegetation but scrub bush and juniper. The 30-mile stretch between Panguich and Cannonville, running along Red Canyon, gave us our first real taste of Utah. It is a landscape of tall red sandstone cliffs with pinnacles, towers and vertical fingers of rock. There are rock buttresses and arches too – the road goes directly under one.
UTAH great rides
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Fifty miles further on along route 12, we finally entered the Grand Escalante Staircase National Monument. The Boynton Lookout gave us a spectacular view across this vast, bleached terrain. The descent from Boynton Lookout was suitably thrilling, with a steep drop-off around sharp curves, down towards the Escalante River basin, where the watercourse irrigated a ribbon of greenery. Talking of water, it was a challenge to bring enough for drinking, cooking and washing. There were several stretches of the route where there was no habitation or water for up to 75 miles. We carried around six litres of water each, plus a water purifier pump, a ‘Steri-Pen’ sterilising tool, and iodine tablets. On a dusty road Camping wild is one of the most enjoyable aspects of a journey of this sort. There’s a real sense of being in the remote wilderness. You can watch the sun set and rise undisturbed. At one camp on a sandbar, in North Wash canyon near to Lake Powell, I sat outside my tent and watched the wildlife at dusk. A raven flew up the canyon in front of the cliff face. Bats appeared, swooping and diving, chasing insects. Two huge butterflies fluttered above us in a tree. It was supremely tranquil. Travelling through this desert-like environment meant things got dusty. The fine sand and dust got everywhere, especially inside the tent. Riding along with even the slightest breeze meant there was dust in the air. We washed as best we could, in the river where there was one, with a flannel-wash where there wasn’t. Hot showers at campsites and motels were cherished. The temperature in summer can exceed 35-40 degrees, so we did our trip in mid-September, when it was mainly in the mid-20s. Humidity levels were very low, however, which made for comfortable riding conditions. At night, the temperature plummeted, particularly at altitudes of 8,000 feet (2,700m) and above.
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Do it yourself From the UK, fly to Last Vegas (150 miles away) or Salt Lake City (250 miles) and drive to Cedar City using car or van hire. Carriage of bikes on planes to the US can be quite costly (around $150 one way). In terms of route, you could follow what we did or adapt the route to fit your available time. Best bits are Cedar City to Blanding. You might want to take in more of Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks as excursions. Go in spring or autumn: it’s too hot in summer and too cold and snowed-in during the winter.
“It is a landscape of tall, red sandstone cliffs with pinnacles, towers and fingers of rock. There are buttresses and arches too – the road goes directly under one” CTC. O R G . U K cyc l e 5 5
PAGE 77 spa cycles new steel touring bike on test
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FACT FILE
Way out west Distance: 577 miles (447 miles from Cedar City, Utah to Dolores, Colorado) 4
“I sat by my tent and watched the wildlife at dusk. A raven flew up the canyon in front of the cliff face. Bats appeared, swooping and diving, chasing insects” Most days were clear and sunny, but we ran into some wilder weather near Lake Powell and again when entering Colorado. Fierce 50mph winds made cycling difficult and whipped up clouds of red dust. The wind also made camping tougher. On the worst day, a friendly park ranger in Hite allowed us to camp out under a verandah at the back of the ranger station, so as to shelter from the storm. Even in this semi-desert climate, it sometimes rains or hails furiously for short periods. Watching the storm pass over the whole of this enormous landscape gave great photo opportunities. Out of the desert Some of the best cycling of the whole trip was the day we cycled away from Hite. For several hours, we rode through an empty landscape of orange rock bluffs, the empty road ahead disappearing into the horizon. Traffic was relatively light for much of route from Cannonville to Blanding. We’d see the occasional truck, then only tourists in cars, RVs, and on motorcycles. We saw surprisingly few others cycle touring, just a handful over two weeks. Most were long-distance travellers. After Blanding, the landscape changed. We moved from the dry desert terrain of the canyon-lands into green farmland pastures. The cycling was less challenging, apart from the increase in traffic. Cycling out of Durango was like riding along the hard shoulder of a motorway. Even that disappeared at one point, making the riding even more precarious. Cars passed within inches. So after 577 miles, we called a halt in Bayfield. Back in England, however, my memories of the peaceful wilderness are undiminished. I’m now thinking of heading not west but north – to northern Norway.
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In The Photos 4) Highway 95 dropping down to cross the Colorado River near Hite 5) Wild-camping in the North Wash canyon near to Lake Powell
Time taken: 14 days of riding and one rest day. Overnights: Mainly camping wild or in campsites. State park campsites are better and cheaper than RV campsites. A few nights in motels. Maps: ACA Western Express Bicycle Route – Section 3 Cedar City to Dolores. Fifteen 30-40 mile segments. Worth picking up some state road maps as well (AAA) for Utah and Colorado for an overview. Getting there: I flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico, then we were driven to Utah (9-10 hours).
Cedar City utah
Bikes: I used a converted Diamondback Sorrento mountain bike with racks and road tyres. Pete took his Cannondale Touring 2000XL Terrain: Lots of climbing and descending, from 4,000 up to 10,000 feet (1300-3300m). But road surfaces are good. Essential kit: Plenty of water bottles and some form of water sterilisation. Sun protection. A good sleeping bag and warm clothes (inc. hat and gloves) for high altitudes. Further information: ACA adventurecycling. org/routes-and-maps. Have a look at Utah.com/ national parks There is also a helpful cycle officer for the State of Utah: Evellyn Tuddenham, etuddenham@utah.gov.
Dolores Colorado
ACA Western Express Bicycle Route - Section 3
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Space for c ycling
1 photos istockphoto.com
Space for Cycling
To get Dutch facilities here, planners must reallocate space. Cyclists need more. Chris Peck explains CTC’s new campaign, and how you can take part
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better standard of design for cycle facilities. Proper provision for cyclists on the busiest roads. Those are the aims of CTC’s Space for Cycling campaign, which is being run in conjunction with local campaign groups around the country. Last year, the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) launched its Space for Cycling campaign, demanding better quality cycling provision in the capital. This campaign crystallised out of huge demonstration rides following cyclists’ deaths and inadequate designs for major junctions in London. Thanks to generous cycle industry funding from the Bicycle Association’s ‘Bike Hub’ fund, CTC and campaign groups federation Cyclenation will be taking LCC’s campaign national. Cycling campaigns 5 8 cyc le ap r il/m ay 2014
from many of Britain’s other big cities – Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, and Sheffield – as well as those from smaller towns and cities, are working on a shared vision. The aim is to secure commitments from government at all levels to principles of good design for cycling, and to provide the funding required to implement them. At a local level, campaign groups and individuals will be lobbying local authorities to commit to the highest standards of cycle provision, and to set aside local authority funding to help match any central government money. Space for Cycling isn’t aimed solely at existing cyclists. Only a third of the population ever rides a bike, and only half of those ride regularly. If we want to get the majority cycling regularly – particularly
children and older people – we have to deal with the barriers they face. Barrier number one is busy roads: two thirds of people agree with the statement: ‘the idea of cycling on busy roads frightens me’. Big, busy roads are too inhospitable for most people to feel safe on. Yet most of the trips people make by bike will, at some point, require the use of these roads. Along metropolitan lines?
Although London’s campaign is the inspiration for the wider national campaign, the story there is not completely comparable to the rest of the country. Grand promises from the Mayor of London – including funding pledges of £913m to build cycle networks ‘to at least adequate standards, or not at all’ – require political backing at a local level. The 32 boroughs
In the photos 1 UK cycling facility: cyclist in the gutter 2 Dutch facility: road-space reclaimed
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“Local authorities rarely remove space from motor traffic and make it available to cyclists” (and the City of London) control 95% of the roads and streets on which any new infrastructure will be constructed. The LCC’s Space for Cycling campaign will therefore target all of the candidates for the May 2014 local elections in London, with specific messages and demands for improvements in each location. Outside London, there are no 2014 elections in Wales or Scotland and the local elections in England are less important; only a third of councillors are elected in most places, and many of the local authorities hold only planning powers. This means that although they might set out favourable planning policies, for the most part they don’t control the streets on which the improvements need to be made. Many of the major English cities will nevertheless have the opportunity to
challenge their candidates to sign up to a Space for Cycling message. In towns and cities elsewhere, it will be necessary to seek commitments from existing councillors. In places where there aren’t active campaign groups, CTC will be helping new groups to form and decide for themselves what they should be calling for locally, such as junction improvements, new routes along busy roads, or 20mph limits. There’ll be a tool to make it easy to contact your local councillor and challenge them to pledge to implement the Space for Cycling plan in your area – go to ctc.org. uk/spaceforcycling to find out more. Carving out space
Too often, designs for cycling fail to meet our expectations. Instead of gleaming, wide, Dutch-style cycle tracks that glide,
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Space for c ycling
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with priority, through junctions, we get narrow, badly-maintained strips of tarmac at the side of the road that stop and start. Why does this happen? Local authorities rarely show the political will to remove space from motor traffic and reallocate it for cycling. Most local authorities’ transport schemes aren’t primarily about cycling: they are designed to improve bus priority, or add traffic capacity to reduce congestion. Cycling is usually at the bottom of the list, and any facilities for cycling are considered marginal and therefore must fit in where space and junction capacity permits. Where engineers are tasked with trying to include cycling schemes, they are often hamstrung by inflexible regulations, and they may lack the skills and training to know what works best and how to do it. Money, not rhetoric
Alongside improving design standards, the other major stumbling block to
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implementing good facilities is the lack of cash. Whereas London now has a commitment to spend significant sums on cycling over the next decade, outside the capital, the funding situation is less rosy. Although the eight cities awarded funding last year have cash to implement their projects up to 2015, there is nothing promised after that. Funding from central government, dedicated specifically for cycling, could help drive local politicians to do something more courageous when it comes to reallocating road space and junction capacity in favour of cycling. Providing facilities for cycling may require a fraction of the cost of building new roads, but it’s still not cheap. A high-quality cycleway can cost as much as £1m a mile to do it properly. Major junctions are even more costly. However, while longer term funding is desperately needed, progress could be made faster if the hundreds of millions spent on road maintenance each year included careful consideration of how the situation for cyclists could be improved when roads are resurfaced. With a general election now just over a year away, the next few months will be the time to influence the major parties who are writing their 2015 election manifestos. The final part of the Space for Cycling campaign will be an action to target MPs in the run up to the election and make sure that, come May 2015, there is strong commitment from all parties to allocate sufficient funds for cycling in the next parliament. If you want to see significant, long term funding for cycling, please visit ctc.org. uk/spaceforcycling to find out more and sign up for updates.
In the photos 3 Dutch cyclepaths don’t end in ‘cyclists dismount’ signs 4 In the UK, transport schemes are often about improving priority for buses
Council tasks Five things that councils must do
to create Space for Cycling.
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On busy roads, dedicate space for cycling, designed so that anyone can ride there with a feeling of safety.
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On less busy streets, limit the speed of through traffic. Reduce speed limits to 20mph in built-up areas and 40mph or lower on rural lanes.
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Ensure that cycling route networks are continuous and interlink seamlessly, with major junctions no longer posing barriers to cycling.
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Create traffic-free routes that provide a sensible alternative to, not a replacement for, the most direct on-road route.
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Maintain roads with cycling in mind. When resurfacing roads, make space for cycling
Technical/Legal/Health Your questions Our answers
Q&A Legal
CLUB RUN CRASH
Q Third-party liability insurance, such as CTC’s, is important if you ride in a group as you might cause a crash
CONTACT THE EXPERTS
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During a recent chain-gang, a crash occurred when the third rider in the line ran into the back of the second rider after the first rider braked. The third rider fell off and sustained fractures to wrist and elbow. Rider three is now suing rider one for damages. I was not involved, but if rider three wins it will surely be impossible to
M E E T
Chris Juden CTC Technical Officer and qualified engineer
T H E
d r m at t brooks Cycling GP
ride in bunches or road races. Is the claim likely to succeed? M Weaver
A
E X P E R T S
Cyclists do need to take care when riding in a bunch. The slipstream effect is greater the closer you are to the rider in front, but riding too close leads to greater risk. It is sensible to keep your hands on the hoods and to position yourself slightly offset so that you can see ahead. Sudden movements, often over-reactions, can cause pile ups. Make a clear signal to riders around you and remember to look over your shoulder. Each member of the group must be vigilant. Riding close together can also enhance the safety of the group as they will be more visible in traffic. Motorists are frequently unaware that the law permits cyclists to ride two abreast, and many readers will no doubt have been on the receiving end of abuse from motorists in these circumstances. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on an ongoing case, particularly if the cyclists are CTC members and if CTC is supporting one or more of the injured cyclists in a claim through Slater & Gordon. Occasionally, we are instructed by cyclists injured in a pile up. Whether or not it is possible to pursue a claim depends on the individual circumstances of the case, and whether we can identify and prove negligence on the part of one or
pa u l k i t s o n Partner from Slater & Gordon (UK) LLP
more cyclists. There have been very few reported cases in relation to injured cyclists riding in a group. In a recent High Court case, Thomas v Warwickshire County Council, Mr Thomas, an experienced cyclist, sustained a serious head injury when he fell from his bike during a group ride when he struck a defect on the road surface. Mr Thomas was travelling at 25mph, riding two abreast with 20 other cyclists, 15cm from the rear wheel of his fellow rider when he struck the defect. The judge held that it was reasonable to assume cyclists would ride two or even three abreast but significantly, and very harshly in my view, he held the claimant to be 60% contributory negligent on the basis he was riding closely behind the bike in front. When riding in a group it is particularly important to have third-party liability insurance in the event that there is a pile up and you are identified as the culprit. As a CTC member, you will have up to £10million of indemnity cover. Affiliated clubs also have the benefit of indemnity insurance. If you are the innocent injured party you may, of course, pursue a claim through the CTC Legal Services scheme. The outcome of the litigation referred to in Mr Weaver’s question will not impact on the future of group cycling. Incidents will occasionally happen. Paul Kitson
Send health and legal questions to the Editor (details on p88). We regret that Cycle magazine cannot answer unpublished health and legal queries. Technical and general enquiries, however, are a CTC membership service. Contact the CTC Information Office, tel: 0844 736 8450, cycling@ctc.org.uk (general enquiries) or Chris Juden, technical@ctc.org.uk (technical enquiries). You can also write to: CTC, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX. And don’t forget that CTC operates a free-tomembers advice line for personal injury claims, tel: 0844 736 8452.
Letter of
H e a l th
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Q
A year ago, an over-65’s health check (I am 70) showed that I have high blood pressure. I was prescribed Amlodipine 5mg tablets and my blood pressure has dropped. But I suffered side effects, the worst being shortage of breath, especially when climbing hills. I felt I might have to give up riding with my club. (I do a road ride of 40 miles or so every weekend and a mountain bike ride of about 20 miles every Thursday.) When I mentioned this to my doctor, she suggested coming off the tablets for two weeks. I did and felt 10 years younger, easily keeping up with clubmates. I think this shows that Amlodipine is not suitable for me. Is there anything else I could use for my blood pressure? WH Jackson
iStockphoto.com
A
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a common medical problem, which is important as it increases the risk of other conditions including heart attack and stroke. It usually refers to a blood pressure above 140/90. Treatment is through a combination of lifestyle factors – a healthy diet, exercise, not smoking and maintaining a normal BMI – and medication. Those medicines used for hypertension tend to be grouped together based on their mechanism of action. Amlodipine is a calcium-channel blocker. Other frequently used classes of drug are ACE inhibitors (e.g. lisinopril and ramipril) and thiazide diuretics (e.g. indapamide and bendroflumethiazide). Beta-blockers
the (e.g. atenolol) and alphamonth blockers (e.g. doxazosin) are also used although not usually as first-line treatment. All medications have side-effects. Many are relatively minor, and a particular side-effect will not affect everyone. Some side-effects are not too troublesome and can be tolerated. However, given the problems that you have experienced with shortness of breath while taking amlodipine, it would seem sensible to try another drug. NICE provide some clear guidance on treatment of hypertension. In your age group, the next drug to try would be an ACE inhibitor such as lisinopril or ramipril, assuming there are no contra-indications. There is always an element of trial and error in the process as it is not always possible to predict which of us will get troublesome side-effects with any given medication. It is, however, usually possible to find one or more drugs which are both effective at controlling your blood pressure and acceptable to you in terms of adverse effects. Dr Matt Brooks
Like all medicines, those that tackle hypertension (high blood pressure) have side effects
Technical
BROKEN CRANK
Q
The right-hand crank on my hybrid recently snapped at the pedal hole, spilling me onto the road. I’ve had the bike for four years, clocking up over 10,000 miles. When the crank snapped, I was starting a small climb, standing on the pedals to stay in a high gear. Might the crank have been cracked from new? Keith Richards
A
This break has all the signs of a fatigue fracture: the darker, smoother part is the zone of gradual crack growth and the rough, bright surface is the final tearing fracture. The origin of the crack will be a tiny flaw in the metal,
perhaps an included fragment of foundry slag or a surface scratch, at which the stresses of your pedalling tended to concentrate, alternately pulling apart then closing up the metal around this flaw, until it became an actual crack. This crack then grew slightly deeper into the metal with each subsequent reversal of strain, which became so great that another crack formed on the opposite side of the pedal hole. At this stage there should have been a visible hairline crack radiating from the side of pedal axle’s shoulder. It might have been possible to make it open slightly by standing on the 6 o’clock pedal, but you’d need an assistant to observe that. Finally, there wasn’t enough metal remaining to support
Q&A
your hill-storming lunge on the pedal. Some metals, such as steel and titanium, are resistant to the formation of cracks at surface flaws. Aluminium isn’t. It looks to me most likely that this crack started at the interface with the pedal shoulder. Some cranks come with thin steel washers to protect their surface against scoring by the pedal shoulder as it is tightened. I strongly recommend these washers with pedals where the spanner flats cut into the shoulder. It appears that your pedals, however, have a smooth circular shoulder, which I’d have thought unlikely to damage the crank enough to start a crack. The shoulder will nevertheless rub the surface upon tightening and a washer might not. Thirty years ago it would not have been hard to find someone who’d broken a crank. Some cranks had a reputation for fracturing at the pedal hole. But to be fair: at that time, the use of lightweight alloy cranks was spreading from the cossetted realm of cycle sport to the knockabout world of travel and transport; and the end of a crank does tend to knock against things! So manufacturers always had an answer to complaints. Articles were written nevertheless, reporting that other cranks with more metal around the pedal hole didn’t seem as failure prone. When new designs of crank appeared they tended likewise to be fatter at the ends. I guess they were made thick enough that surface scratches shouldn’t matter anymore. And the problem went away. This broken Sram crank, however, doesn’t swell visibly around the pedal hole and is somewhat reminiscent of those older, thinner designs… Anyway: if you’re a big strong guy and like to stomp up hills, my advice is to use pedal washers, and choose heavy cranks that are especially meaty around the pedal hole. Chris Juden
6 6 cyc le AP RIL /m AY 2014
Technical
MORE COMPACT DOUBLE
Q
I’d like lower gears on my Scott Metrix road bike, which has Sora 18-speed gearing via 50-34 chainrings and an 11-30 cassette. I imagine the options are: 1. New cassette with 36 teeth, presumably with a new rear derailleur and a longer chain. 2. New chainrings (44-26). The front derailleur might work, but a new crank will be needed to take a small ring. A couple of years ago you suggested ‘bolting an inner onto a Stronglight ST55 single chainwheel’. Richard Foxley
A
That’s a good summary of the least-cost options. Option 1 is simplest and most certain to work. Any 9-speed Shimano MTB mech will work perfectly with a 9-speed road shifter. So don’t stint yourself: get a ‘Shadow’ type 9-speed mech that’ll let you fit a ‘29er’ cassette with up to 36 teeth. Sora quality would be Deore RD-M592-SGS. Or upgrade to SLX RD-M662-SGS or XT RD-M772-SGS. SGS means longest cage, which you will need even though you only have a double, because the cassette has such a wide range. As for option 2: Spa Cycles still supply that cheap and truly compact ST55 double, but you’ll need a new, square-taper bottom-bracket (seek Spa’s advice on spindle length) and must hope that your existing front mech will cope despite the lack of shift-assist pins on this outer chainwheel – and it being smaller than the 50 your existing mech is designed to fit over. Fortunately, your bike has a clamped-on mech that can be slid down the seat-tube, but there’s still a potential problem with the outer ring being more sharply curved than
A 9-speed Shadow-type Shimano MTB mech works with 9-speed Shimano road shifters. Fit an 11-36 cassette!
These days, cranks seldom crack at the pedal holes. But if you’re a big guy, use chunky cranks and fit pedal washers
the outer cage. This shape mis-match opens an unavoidable gap over the teeth at the back of the cage, through which a shifting chain may over-shoot, then jam as you pedal the overshot links forward into the narrowing gap! So it’s safest not to go too much smaller than 50. I think 46 should be safe enough and would put 28 on the inside. (The tooth difference isn’t the same, but that’s not vital except between a triple’s outer and middle.) Another option is to fit a Sora triple crank on the same bottombracket. Look for a secondhand one, with worn-out chainrings, because you’ll be swapping all of them for something different! Instead of the outer, fit a Stronglight chainguard ring (from Spa Cycles). They come in sizes to fit an outer ring (flipped around to go instead of the middle ring) with 44 teeth, except not even Stronglight makes 130mm bcd outers that small. Middleburn do (or will) make a ring like that, and it’ll be a better ring, but pricy! With an outer guard to nudge an overshooting chain back into line, you don’t need to mind the gap at the back of your cage and can happily use an outer this small with your existing mech. And since difference isn’t vital for doubles (unless it’s so great the chain drops to the very bottom of the cage, which it won’t), put 26 or even 24 on the inside. Chris Juden
REVIEWS
Disc-braked road bikes
Bike Test
1
Whyte Suffolk
£1200-£1500 all-purpose road bikes
Disc-braked road bikes Disc brakes recently made the leap to road bikes. Was it worth it? Journalist Steve Worland tests Genesis's Equilibrium Disc and Whyte's Suffolk to find out Disc-equipped road bikes are
a growing breed, having emerged over the last year or two. At first they were cyclo-cross inspired on/off-road all-rounders, but there are plenty of mainstream brands now offering regular road-going machines. With brake manufacturers working hard on creating reliable, and presumably more affordable, hydraulic disc brakes for road bikes, the trend is set to grow. Cable disc brake-equipped road bikes are already offered at lots of different price points and for lots of different rider types. They're a bit heavier than rim brake-equipped bikes at the same prices, partly because the brake and rotor add some weight and partly because the frame and fork
6 8 cyc le Ap r il/M ay 2014
1 The Suffolk is Whyte's top-of-therange disc-road bike. There's also the Tiagra-equipped Dorset (£999) and the alloy-forked, Sorageared Sussex (£799)
need to be beefed up to resist extra forces. But we may see some hefttrimming moves in rim designs, where braking surfaces are no longer needed.
2 The Equilibrium Disc is the only Equilibrium without rim brakes, but Genesis also produce the Day One ‘urban cross' and Croix de Fer ‘multisport' ranges with disc brakes
So what's the big deal with disc brakes? They're not just about extra braking power; rim brakes are good enough for most riders. But a bike with good disc brakes should need less grip strength to achieve consistent stopping power in all conditions. Discs are barely affected by weather or dirt, and they don't grab if your rims are buckled. Also, the rims aren't subjected to wear, and you get a little more room for fatter tyres and mudguards as there's no calliper reaching over the
Disc drivers
tyre. On the other hand, they add about 500g to overall bike weight, factoring in the heavier brakes and frame/ fork reinforcements. And there's no escaping the fact that some riders just don't like the way they look. I've been testing two disc-equipped road bikes from UK brands Whyte and Genesis. They offer similar gearing and a similar level of components, but the all steel Genesis Equilibrium costs £300 more than the aluminium-framed, carbon-forked Whyte Suffolk.
Frame and fork The weight difference between the Whyte and the Genesis is accounted for mainly by the differences in the frames and forks. The Whyte, with its
bike test
reviews
P61
2
fat-fronted 6061 aluminium frame and straight-bladed carbon fork, is 650g lighter. But the Equilibrium's skinny Reynolds 631 butted steel frame and lugged fork suggests a slightly more forgiving ride. The Genesis is a neatly TIG-welded, relatively traditional construction, with a slightly dropped top-tube, flared into the seat-tube juncture in order to achieve a bigger weld area. The cowled dropout juncture of the seat and chain-stays is bridge-tube-reinforced on the disc brake side, and there's enough space for up to 32mm tyres plus mudguards. There are threaded mudguard eyelets on the dropouts and seat- and chainstay bridges but no rack eyelets on the seat-stays. There are two sets of bottle bosses, down-tube gear cables have threaded adjusters, and there are full outer cables to the brake callipers. The fork has a chunky-lugged crown and the 1.125in steerer has a generous stack of washers and a 7 degree either-way-up stem for bar height adjustment. The head tube is ringreinforced with external headset cups. Geometry varies with sizing: our 56cm test bike had a 72 degree head angle, 73.5 at the seat, and a horizontal top-
Genesis Equilibrium Disc
tube reach of just under 56cm. The Whyte frameset is not that dissimilar in terms of geometry, although the head-tube is slightly taller and the fine details make some minor differences to ride feel. But it's been built very differently. The tapered headtube, straight-bladed carbon composite fork, and oversized hydroformed topand down-tubes make for radically different aesthetics. Integral headset cups help stop the long head-tube from feeling unduly tall, and there's loads of bar height adjustment. There's plenty of room and threaded eyelets for mudguards and a rack, and the seat clamp faces forward – out of the rear wheel spray if you don't use mudguards. There are two sets of bottle bosses, and we like the way the rear brake calliper is tucked in the rear triangle between the seat- and chainstays, leaving clearance for a rack and panniers. Full-outer brake and gear cables go through the down-tube, a neat weather-proof solution but more fiddly to replace than external cabling.
will be compatible with dual gear/ brake levers, but the Whyte gets the braking power benefit of TRP's HyRd hydraulically-operated pistons. I've had these fitted to another test bike for about six months and am happy to say they provide the easiest and most consistent braking output of any cablepull disc brakes I've tried. The only downside is that the hydraulic cylinder means they're a bit heavier and more clumpy-looking than the neater Hayes CX Experts of the Genesis. Both options are easy to adjust, and easy to replace the pads in,
Components
1) Specialized Secteur Elite Disc £1200
2) Cannondale Synapse Disc 5 £1099
There are two disc bikes in the Secteur range: this and a £1000 Sport. The Elite has a carbon fork and Tiagra gears. specialized.com
One of two Synapse ‘endurance' bikes with discs, this one has a carbon fork and a mix of Tiagra and 105. cannondale.com
Almost all road disc brakes use steel 160mm rotors. All cable-pull callipers
Also available
CTC. O R G . U K cyc l e 6 9
Reviews
bike TEST
Tech specs Dimensions in millimetres and degrees
675 570 73˚
820 37
53
560
690
73˚
175
66
135
425
600
622
280
28
1013
WHYTE SUFFOLK Price: £1199
105/Tiagra gearing, 11-30 10speed cassette. 20-speed, 31-123 inches
Sizes: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58cm (56 tested) Weight: 10.1kg (22.4lb)
3 but the HyRds need more lever movement when they're working at their best. Both bikes use largely Shimano 105 10-speed gearing with a compact double chainset – FSA on the Whyte, Shimano on the Genesis. The Whyte gets ‘only' a Tiagra mech up front, but has a wider range of gears due to an 11-30 cassette, compared to the Equilibrium's 12-28. Wheel-wise, both bikes have black aero-style rims – eyeletted and spoked 28 front, 32 rear on the Whyte, 32/32 non-eyeletted on the Genesis. The Shimano Deore XT hubs of the Genesis have a great reputation for durability, but I had no problems on test with the Whyte-branded hubs either. Security skewers on the Whyte are a nice touch for a bike that might get used as a commuter. Both bikes get robust all-rounder tyres: 28mm Maxxis Detonators on the Whyte; faster-rolling 25mm Continental Grand Sport Race on the Genesis. Finishing kit on both bikes is quality own-brand stuff. Both bikes use slimline but reasonable comfortable saddles and twin-bolted seatposts.
Ride The ride-feel differences between the Whyte and the Genesis relate partly to the obvious differences in frame and fork construction, but more significantly to small differences in geometry and components. I tested nominally 56cm models in both bikes. The Whyte has a slightly longer top tube and wheelbase but a shorter stem. With a bit more trail and wider tyres, handling is nice and
70 cyc le Ap r il/M ay 2014
Frame & fork: 6061 hydroformed T6 butted aluminium frame. Carbon fork
4
Wheels: Whyte R7 28/32 wheels, Maxxis Detonator 28C tyres
Steering & seating: Whyte 44cm compact bar, Whyte stem, saddle, seat post
Transmission: FSA Gossamer 50-34 cranks, Shimano
Contact: whytebikes.com
Dimensions in millimetres and degrees
680 558 800
73.5˚
45
5
4 The Suffolk uses a tapered head tube, shorter stem and longer top tube, like Whyte's off-road bikes 5 Conventional brake cable operates hydraulic pistons, which are mounted on the chain-stay – preventing pannier rack interference
63
135
415
610 72˚
stable but without the steering inertia of a slack-angled bike. The Genesis, despite its higher weight, has a taut and more nimble ride feel than the Whyte. It's a little less chattery over the bumps, notwithstanding thinner tyres. Neither bike is uncomfortable, however. The Whyte's 28mm treads absorb vibration well and take comfort up to the level I expected from the steel frame/forked Genesis. The compact drops of both bikes provide plenty of easily accessible hand positions; the flatted-oval bar tops of the Whyte are particularly good. The Whyte's lower weight is noticeable on climbs and when starting off, and the 30-tooth cassette sprocket is welcome when you prefer to stay seated on steep climbs. Braking is smoother too, and with a lighter lever feel than the Genesis. The Genesis brakes needed more grip strength and the fork would flutter occasionally on sudden stops. I didn't notice initially that the chainstays are quite wide on the Whyte. But
46
530
685
3 The Whyte has fittings for a rear rack
Braking: TRP HyRd cable-pull hydraulic disc callipers, 160mm rotors
175
275
622 25
1008
GENESIS EQUILIBRIUM DISC Price: £1499 Sizes: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60cm (56 tested) Weight:10.75kg (23.9lb) Frame & fork: Reynolds 631 butted steel frame and fork Wheels Shimano XT hubs, H Plus Son rims, 32/32, Continental GS 25C tyres Transmission: Shimano 50-34
cranks, Shimano 105 gearing, 12-28 10-speed cassette. 20speed, 33-112 inches Braking: Hayes CX Expert cable pull disc callipers, 160mm rotors Steering & seating: Genesis 40cm compact bar, Genesis stem, seat post and saddle Contact: genesisbikes. co.uk
when I leant the bike to a friend with big feet (size 47), he kept brushing his heel against the right-hand chain-stay.
Summary Disc-braked road bikes like these might become the new ‘everyman/
6
7
8
everywoman' road bikes. Whatever riding you do, disc brakes won't eat your rims. Weekend riders, creditcard tourists and commuters can all benefit from a road bike that will take mudguards, a rear rack and slightly fatter tyres. Bigger tyres also mean more rough-roads comfort. We can probably be thankful that the road disc-brake trend is coinciding with a trend for fatter road bike tyres, as the reinforced frames and forks of disc-equipped bikes might detract from comfort with skinnier tyres fitted. (It's hard to make an objective assessment without a head-to-head comparison of otherwise identical bikes.) As for the Genesis Equilibrium Disc and the Whyte Suffolk: despite the differences in price, weight, and aesthetics, both are excellent bikes. The wider gear range, interesting frame features, lighter braking action, and lower price of the Whyte appealed to me, but the blend of traditional and modern on the Genesis will win over many riders.
6 The Genesis's beefed up rear triangle has eyelets for a mudguard, but a rack would be awkward 7 The steel fork has a small amount of flex. It helps with the vibration from rougher tarmac but can ‘flutter' if you brake hard 8 Disc brakes aside, the steel Genesis is a more traditionallooking road bike
bike test
reviews
£1000 touring bike
Spa Cycles Steel Touring
New own-brand touring bike from the Harrogate shop ticks all the boxes. Review by Chris Juden I already have a Spa Titanium
Touring (reviewed in J/J 2011, see tinyurl.com/pfmnhrb), so to give myself more to write about the Steel version – and because I’d be testing it in February – I asked for the £150 lighting upgrade. More on that later, but remember this bike is only £945 and 13.8kg (with pedals) when comparing with usual daylight-only tourers.
Frame The two Spa Tourings are very similar bikes, fit just as well, ride just as well… and I think any difference in feel is more attributable to tyres and saddle than frame material. The Titanium one is £535 extra, which is a lot to save 0.3kg and no paint to chip. And an all-black finish comes close, since touching up is easy and doesn’t show. I can’t fault the geometry or tubing
choice and was pleased to see a reinforcing plate under the down-tube/ head-tube joint. I think lugless frames often need a bit of stiffening there (the Spa Ti frame now also has this). Kudos to Spa for 6mm threads in the bottom rear carrier eyes. They’re much less prone to loosen and strip under the weight of a touring load. The usual 5mm are adequate for the upper fixings and lighter front panniers.
Above Carrier wants and gets a bigger (M6) bolt
Also consider
Wheels Plain Marathon tyres have more puncture resistance and don’t roll quite as freely as Marathon Racer (on my Ti Tourer), but you can have those instead if you like. The wheels are handbuilt in Harrogate and the rear has differential spoking. That means thicker spokes on the right, where dishing
1) Ridgeback Panorama £1249.99
2) Dawes Galaxy Classic £1299
Quite well equipped but less keenly priced. Reynolds 725 frame, CroMo fork, 27-speed mix of Shimano Sora and Deore. Reviewed Aug/Sep 13.
£350 extra gets a Reynolds 631 frame, CroMo fork, and 30-speed largely Shimano Tiagra gearing (so a 12-30T cassette) with bar-end shifters. dawescycles.com
ridgeback.co.uk
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bike TEST
2
Tech spec
1 for derailleur gears increases spoke tension, and thinner on the left where tension is low. This equalises the stresses and strains, so the wheel is more balanced and less likely to buckle or break a spoke. It’s a small thing that avoids trouble on tour. All this turns on reliable Shimano Deore MTB hubs, except where the lighting upgrade substitutes a SP-dynamo hub in front. It’s a very small generator that delivers the full 3W. Apart from lights, the electronics we now take on holiday need charging, so I think such generators will be increasingly demanded on tourers.
Componentry As the sporty road and mountain sides of cycling grow further apart, drop handlebar touring bikes are falling down the gap. But if you stick at 9-speed no compromises are required in the gearing at least. Except that since Tiagra went 10-speed, you can’t have anything ‘better’ than Sora, which nevertheless works perfectly well. It puts gear cables in the way of a barbag, but there are workarounds. The test bike actually came with a Tiagra 10-speed front mech, which rubbed in some gears. A word to Spa and the spec is now changed for a wider-cage Sora mech. I nowadays find more use for gears below 20 than over 100 inches, but imagine that most tourists will be perfectly happy with the range on this bike. It’s better than any 30-speeder. Brakes are the other road-mountain conflict zone. If you want STI levers,
78 cyc le AP R IL/M AY 2014
you can’t have the long cable-pull efficiency of full-size V-brakes and must stick with cantilevers (tricky to set and prone to fork judder), or sacrifice clearance with mini-Vees. The latter is Spa’s favoured compromise. They make the best of it by positioning the braze-ons high, so tyres up to 32mm fit comfortably – with the mudguard hard against brake! Although they’re mini, these Vees could do with more cable than an STI lever pulls, so must be kept adjusted very close to the rims. That done, the braking should be more powerful, but I didn’t find them any stronger (or weaker) than the cantis on my Ti Tourer, which takes 37mm tyres.
Points of contact At the rear is a Spa Nidd (made in Taiwan) saddle. It’s very like a B17: same leather thickness, same width, but 1cm shorter and with the flaps laced together to help keep its shape. At the front an FSA Wing bar has nice shallow drop, and as Spa let you choose your stem extension, whilst leaving plenty of length on the steerer, a comfortable touring position is almost guaranteed. Fit your own pedals to some proper touring cranks, with nice narrow pedal spread, which (though they come with 48, 38, 28 rings) can fit chainrings down to 34 middle and 24 inner, via five bolts for stability, on a square-taper axle with big, reliable bearings.
Equipment Touring equipment comprises two bottle cages, sturdy guards and a
1 It’s a squeeze but Mini-Vees accept a 32mm tyre all right! 2 The down-tube is reinforced where it meets the head-tube
Spa Steel Touring Price: £1095 (£945 without lights) Weight: 14.1kg (as shown, inc lighting) Sizes: 51, 54 (tested), 57cm Frame and fork: Reynolds 725 & CroMo. Fittings for 3 bottles, guards & carriers. Wheels: Schwalbe Marathon 32-622 tyres, Exal LX17 rims, 36fi3 spokes 2.0/1.8 db with 2.3/2.0 sb rear right on SP front, Shimano Deore rear hub. Transmission: 27-speed 24-119in. Sugino XD-2 170mm 48-38-28 chainset, 11-32fi9 cassette, Shimano Deore rear mech, Sora front and STI shifters. Braking: Tektro RX-5 mini-V brakes. Steering & seating: Tange Terious hset, 6cm spacers, FSA 9cm stem & Wing 42cm bar. Spa Nidd saddle on FSA post. Equipment SP-PV8 hub generator, B&M IQ head & Selectra+ rear lamp. Tubus Logo rear carrier. 2 alloy bottle cages. Contact: spacycles.co.uk, 01423 887003
first-class luggage carrier – plus the optional extra of built-in lighting. Very few manufacturers offer this. Don’t they realise touring bikes are also ideal for commuting? SP hubs are close to market leader Schmidt for efficiency and lamps don’t come much better than Busch & Müller. I’d rather see (or not see) internal wiring, but coaxial rubber-insulated cable is tough and zip-ties blend in against black paint!
Conclusion This is probably the best touring bike you can get for under a grand. Apart from the front mech – already sorted – my criticisms are mostly at the level of ‘ashtrays too small’. Recommended!
Reviews
components/kit/accessories/more
grouptest
APRIL/MAY 2014
ctc ’ s s e a m u s k e l l y r e v i e w s o f f i c e b a g s
Briefcase panniers Briefcase panniers protect your laptop, prevent A4 documents getting dog-eared, and look more businesslike in the office. Seamus Kelly reviews four Standard panniers are okay for the
1 Heel clearance Briefcase panniers don’t taper towards the bottom, so usually fit to the rear rack at an angle to provide heel clearance. Some are manufactured left- or rightspecific, others are can be adjusted to fit either side. Smaller notebookcomputer sized panniers may fit squarely on the rack, in either ‘landscape’ or ‘portrait’ orientation.
commute to work, so long as you’re happy with the cycling equivalent of a holdall. Contents can get jumbled. Documents can end up dishevelled and your laptop can squash your packed lunch. A briefcase pannier is a more organised, more businesslike-looking alternative. The four bags in this test are all able to accommodate a 15-inch laptop computer, as well as A4 documents and stationery, while still having room for accessories and a waterproof jacket. They’re all weatherproof. And they all fit securely, so you don’t have to worry about them jumping off the rack and smashing expensive contents if you hit a pothole on the way to a meeting.
2 Fixings Hooks that can be moved, preferably independently, enable you to fit the bag where you want on the rack, ensuring adequate heel clearance. All good hooks have some kind of catch to stop them coming off the rack accidentally. Ortlieb’s and Vaude’s retract when you lift the bag’s handle, which saves time when you park but makes opportunistic theft when you’re waiting at the traffic lights a possibility.
3 Weather resistance All four of these bags are impressively waterproof. I hosed them down, spending five minutes on each, aiming at flaps and seals. The Carradice and Altura bags showed no signs of moisture ingress. The Vaude let in a little dampness without its raincover but none with it fitted. Surprisingly, a few water droplets managed to get inside the Ortlieb.
4 Off the bike All briefcase bags have carry handles, and most have a shoulder strap – detachable so that it doesn’t end up in the spokes. Carry the bag with the ‘bike side’ away from you body to keep road grime off your clothes. Some bags have a zip-up panel to cover up the rack-mounting hardware (and any road dirt).
5 Compartments Internal dividers and pockets let you organise the briefcase’s contents better, to stop you fishing around. A padded laptop pouch is obviously useful; check that the size suits. External pockets are handy for bike gear that you don’t want mixing with your office stuff.
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Reviews
GROUPTEST
Altura Urban Dryline 17 £74.99 Designed to carry a 17-inch laptop computer, this bag has lots of height and width internally. It’s the only pannier I’ve come across that can carry a hardback A3 sketch book, making it a good choice for artists and designers. The bag itself looks smart in black, and the reflective patches and logos are discrete enough not to look out of place at work. The interior is divided into compartments, including a removable laptop pouch with handles and a zip. The Urban Dryline 17 attaches to the rack at a steep angle to enable this large bag to remain clear of heels and thighs, and although it looks unusual this works very well. The clips and stabiliser were easily adjusted without tools. Removal from the rack involves pushing down on the red button and lifting the bag. It was so easy it could be done in a single movement with one hand. Dimensions: 42×34×13cm. zyro.co.uk
Balancing your needs
Weatherproof, good value, lots of features, and plenty of capacity
Carradice Bike Bureau £95
Backpacks and courier bags are convenient for short trips by bike, as the bag goes with you when your dismount. They do isolate laptops more from road vibration, although I’ve carried computers and cameras in panniers for the last ten years and, with fairly careful packing, have had no issues. The big advantage of a pannier is that it takes the weight off your back, which is more comfortable and helps stop you getting sweaty. Using a single pannier is less balanced than two, but I’ve found that it only makes a significant difference to handling if the single bag is heavily laden.
The Bike Bureau is made from cotton duck with leather straps. It’s big enough to carry a day’s office essentials, plus a change of clothing. A removable laptop sleeve is suspended by two studs near the top of the bag, providing an extra level of protection. Under the large external flap there is a waterproof nylon cover with a drawstring closure to keep the contents dry. An extra flap over the top of the bag can be deployed to cover the rack hooks off the bike, although the Velcro patches to hold this flap in place are not as effective as the Altura’s zip-down cover. The plastic panel on the bottom of the test bag arrived scuffed and split. Had I bought the bag, I’d have had to exchange it. I wasn’t keen on the fixings, which needed a screwdriver for grub screws and a hammer to fix the rail end caps. Dimensions: 44×37×15cm. carradice.co.uk
Traditional style, tough fabric, and weatherproof. Fixings and base could be better
Ortlieb Office Bag (QL2) £105 This box-like bag uses Ortlieb’s familiar roll-top closure system, without an additional flap over the top. Of the four bags in the test, this one looks least like a typical office bag. Inside there is a large open space with a few pockets for pens, phones etc. It does not have a laptop sleeve of its own, although there is plenty of space to fit one; Ortlieb even make them. The bag is light for its size but seems quite robust. I found the closure buckles harder to open than most and they would be a challenge for anyone with long finger nails. Setting the fixtures up is easy, with just a hex key needed to tighten the stabiliser. Simply pulling up on the handle releases the catches and removes the bag from the rack. This QL2 version uses ‘normal’ hooks; there is also a QL3 version with recessed hooks. Dimensions: 40×30×17cm. ortlieb.co.uk
Plenty of room but lacks a briefcase’s compartmentalised interior and appearance
Vaude Newport II Medium £74.99 The Vaude bag looks smart and modern and is also available in grey, which might suit those wanting a more traditional style. The heavy material has a weatherproof coating and is easy to wipe clean. The bag is slightly smaller than the others, and its interior is divided into two compartments, one of which has light padding for a laptop. (I still used a neoprene sleeve for extra protection.) No tools are needed to adjust the clips and I was surprised to find no stabiliser on the bag. In use, even when riding out of the saddle and over cobbles the bag didn’t swing away from the rack. The bar carrying the clips can be positioned for either left or right side of the bike. I particularly like the way it can be very easily removed, making it more comfortable to carry as a shoulder bag. Dimensions: 38×26×14cm. vaude.co.uk
A compact office pannier that’s also comfortable as a shoulder bag
8 2 cyc le AP R IL/M AY 2014
benefits
go online visit ctc.org.uk/memberbenefits for the full list of offers and benefits
benefits & special offers for CTC members
Member Benefits Photo: Kevin Mayne
CTC Travel Insurance If you are currently planning your next cycling holiday, CTC Travel Insurance, designed specifically for today’s cyclist, will provide you with the protection and peace of mind for your trip. You can choose from either single trip or annual multi-trip cover, and you can include cycles valued up to £3k where required. Unlike other policies, CTC Travel Insurance automatically includes cover for repatriation of you and your cycle. Cover is available for both road and off-road cycling and can include cover for overseas sportives if required. Quotes and further information can be found at: ctc.org.uk/insurance or by calling 0844 736 8458
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Whether you’re new to cycling, ride regularly or want to get back into it, we cater for you. With over 130 years of experience to share, we are passionate about helping more people enjoy the benefits of cycling. As an independent charity, we are heavily reliant on voluntary donations for funding. You can help us grow and support our work by being a member.
•H elp encourage thousands more people to cycle and keep cycling •G ive cycling a louder voice – we campaign to promote cycling Photo: Chris Juden
more details online – visit www.ctc.org.uk/ memberbenefits
•E njoy the support and inspiration of your local cycling community •A ccess our expertise to help make your neighbourhood cycle-friendly •C hoose from thousands of free, diverse local rides •D iscover new routes – we have a vast library of them
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•R ide with peace of mind – you’ll be covered by £10m third-party insurance and will benefit from a cycling-related support and advice •T ake advantage of advice by phone, email or on the forum. There aren’t many questions about cycling that we can’t answer •E njoy six issues of our awardwinning magazine, Cycle •D iscounts at cycling shows and events, and hundreds of bike shops and outdoor retailers, including Cotswold Outdoor, all across the country
Pay by Direct Debit and get 15 months for the price of 12
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Join now on 0844 736 8451 or visit ctc.org.uk/membership 8 6 cyc le ap r il/m ay 2014
go online For website and email addresses for CTC Member Groups, go to ctc.org.uk/groups
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Member Group contacts Scotland
Ayrshire Nancy Law t: 01560 322797 Dumfries & Galloway Mike Gray t: 07751 978563 Falkirk Denis Callaghan t: 01324 636935 Fife & Kinross Kaye Lynch t: 01337 827164 Glasgow John Foster t: 01555 759102 Grampian Sheila Tuckwood t: 01224 639012 Highland Steve Carroll t: 01862 871136 Lothians & Borders Duncan Ross t: 0131 447 1283 Tayside Pat Harrow t: 01575 574082
Contacts How to contact CTC
membership services CTC MEMBERSHIP CTC, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX t: 0844 736 8451 or 01483 238301 f: 0844 736 8455 e: membership@ctc.org.uk CTC NATIONAL OFFICE CTC, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX t: 0844 736 8450 or 01483 238300 f: 0844 736 8454 e: cycling@ctc.org.uk CYCLE MAGAZINE EDITOR PO Box 313, Scarborough, YO12 6WZ e: editor@ctc.org.uk CTC MAIL ORDER SHOP w: ctcshop.org.uk CTC PRESS OFFICE t: 0844 736 8453 f: 0844 736 8454 e: publicity@ctc.org.uk RIGHT TO RIDE CAMPAIGNERS To find your local RtR campaigner, see w: ctc.org.uk/righttoride t: 01483 238323 e: righttoride@ctc.org.uk CTC IncIDENT LINE Operated by Slater and Gordon (UK) LLP, 1st Floor, St James’ House, 7 Charlotte Street, Manchester, M1 4DZ t: 0844 736 8452 CTC CYCLECOVER INSURANCE Cycle, t: 0844 736 8457 Travel, t: 0844 736 8458 Cycle rescue, t: 0800 212 810 w: cyclecover.co.uk CTC CYMRU Emrys Jones t: 01952 257522 e: demrys2jones@hotmail.co.uk CTC SCOTLAND Donald Urquhart t: 0131 449 6365 e: Secretary@CTCScotland.org.uk w: CTCScotland.org.uk CTC CYCLING HOLIDAYS t: 0191 273 8042 e: info@cyclingholidays.org w: cyclingholidays.org
CTC NATIONAL COUNCIL Jon Snow President
Dan Howard West Midlands, Vice Chair of Council t: 07825 373579 e: dan.howard@ctc.org.uk
Welna Bowden North West t: 01244 660499 e: welna.bowden@ctc.org.uk Arthur Spurr Yorkshire & the Humber t: 01482 640450 e: arthur.spurr@ctc.org.uk
Northern Ireland
John Radford Yorkshire and the Humber John remains seriously ill in hospital. For Yorkshire & the Humber queries, contact Arthur Spurr instead.
Northern Ireland William Montgomery t: 028 9145 7822
East Midlands
Jaki Lowe East Midlands t: 07873 335516 e: jaki.lowe@ctc.org.uk Martin Cockersole East of England t: 01245 256145 e: martin.cockersole@ctc.org.uk Jim Brown East of England t: 01438 354505 e: jim.brown@ctc.org.uk Richard Bates South East t: 01444 452092 e: richard.bates@ctc.org.uk Graham Smith South East t: 01865 725193 e: graham.smithctc.org.uk Philip Benstead South East t: 0207 630 0475 e: philip.benstead@ctc.org.uk Stephen Coe South West t: 01823 253835 e: stephen.coe@ctc.org.uk Julian James South West t: 01202 672348 e: julian.james@ctc.org.uk Roger Crosskey London t: 0208 969 2723 e: roger.crosskey@ctc.org.uk Colin Brown London t: 0771 588 0744 e: colin.brown@ctc.org.uk Chris Oliver Scotland t: 07773 374214 e: chris.oliver@ctc.org.uk Barry Flood Ireland t: 028 2564 4082 e: barry.flood@ctc.org.uk Gwenda Owen Wales t: 07875 333234 e: gwenda.owen@ctc.org.uk
Lord Tony Berkeley Vice President David Cox West Midlands, Chair of Council t: 07785 920646 e: david.cox@ctc.org.uk
Financial Advisor to Council Simon Connell, London: e: simon.connell@ctc.org.uk
8 8 cyc le ap r il/m ay 2014
Cardiff & South East Wales Martin Watson t: 02920 623840 Chester & North Wales Lowri Evans t: 01824 705709 Pembrokeshire Freewheelers Syd Yates t: 07833 281262 Swansea & West Wales Martin Brain t: 01792 536371
Janet Gregory North West t: 07719 282243 e: janet.gregory@ctc.org.uk
Council also comprises Honorary Consulting Solicitor Shivaji Shiva: e: shivaji.shiva@ctc.org.uk
Josie Dew Vice President
Wales
COMPLAINTS: For a copy of CTC’s complaints procedure, please write to The Chief Executive, CTC, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford,GU2 9JX.
PHONE CHARGES 0844 numbers are ‘basic rate’ numbers. They cost less than 5p/min from a BT landline. Other providers may charge more.
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Eastern
Bedfordshire Chantal Lewis t: 01234 219148 Cambridge Chris Emerson t: 01223 360934 Chelmsford City Adrian Leeds t: 01245 260272 Diss Gary Scott t: 01379 788331 Essex Lynda Collins t: 01245 320733 Havering Stephen Ingall t: 07890 386984 Hertfordshire Brian Jackson t: 01920 438561 Norwich Sandra Franks t: 01603 402830 Peterborough Phil Watson t: 01733 239735 South East Essex Jon Steer t: 01702 529 638 South Herts Carol Brazier t: 07711 954753 Stevenage & North Herts Jim Brown t: 01438 354505 Suffolk Paul Bass t: 01359 230881 West Norfolk Felicity Peyman t: 01945 880284
London Central London Christine Johnson t: 07971 294523 Edgware Margaret Sutherland t: 020 8874 0956 South West London Tim Court t: 07767 385596 Uxbridge Loiterers Tony Cates t: 01895 311 510 West Middlesex Stephen Ayres t: 01895 230953
North East Teesside David Bell t: 01642 485637 Tyneside & Northumberland Lawrence Connelly t: 07730 424413
North West Blackburn & District Tony Stott t: 01254 232537 Burnley & Pendle John Ramsden t: 01282 712185 Chester & North Wales Lowri Evans t: 01824 705709 Eden Valley Karen Eaglesfield t: 077684 13416 Fylde Alan Hawkins t: 01253 402929 Fylde Bicycle Belles Amanda Gray t: 01772 682747 Lancaster & South Lakes Mike Hutchinson t: 01524 36061 Manchester and District Mike Wigley t: 01457 870421 Merseyside Paul Snape t: 0151 345 4420 Oldham & Tameside Kathleen Collins t: 01457 764021 South Manchester Harry Burton t: 0161 442 5060 Two Mills (The Wirral) Janet Gregory t: 07719 282243
South East Arun & Adur Peter Wilson t: 01903 755765 Bognor Regis & Chichester Edwin Jones t: 01243 267746 Brighton & Hove Howard Blanks t: 07508 730690 Cheam & Morden Graham Hill t: 0208 549 0366 East Surrey Roger Chambers t: 01737 643212 East Sussex David Rix t: 01273 512357 East Sussex Midweek Esther Carpenter t: 01424 751581 Horsham & Crawley Barbara Nicol t: 01403 257072 North Hampshire Andrew Watson t: 01264 736459 Oxford City Stephen Lee t: 01865 721189 Oxfordshire Robin Tucker t: 01235 835746 Portsmouth Andy Henderson t: 023 9246 0480 Reading Sean Hayden t: 07818 400440 South Bucks Barry Eastwood t: 01844 347149 Southampton & Romsey Robert Geddes t: 07818 3563432 Swale Rob Fradgley t: 07881 848909 Wantage Chris Walters t: 01488 648067 West Kent Martin Gill t: 01732 453 823
West Surrey Nick Davison t: 01428 642013 West Sussex Edwin Jones t: 01243 267746 Winchester Sue Coles t: 01962 864 479
South West Bath Alan Grainger t: 01225 460155 Blackmore Vale & Yeo Valley Jill Kieran t: 01258 821233 Bristol Melanie Weber t: 07969 539441 Cheltenham Stephen Cook t: 01452 700687 Cornwall Martyn Aldis t: 01326 378305 Devon Roy Russell t: 01392 664856 Exeter Roy Russell t: 01392 664856 Frome Perry Milkins t: 0774 7607913 Stroud Valleys Helen Fenton t: 01453 270772 Swindon Mike Blundell t: 01793 703496 Wessex Cycling Mike Walsh t: 01202 429985 West Jane Chapman t: 0117 9629766 West Dorset Angela Price t: 01305 266648
West Midlands Coventry George Riches t: 02476 452437 Dudley Ann Brown t: 01384 918528 Heart of England Dennis Snape t: 07738 733007 Kidderminster Derek Skinner t: 01299 896820 Ledbury & District David Fisher t: 01684 540981 North Birmingham Peter Farrell t: 0121 3781288 Nuneaton Anne Taylor t: 02476 741276 Shropshire Julian Birch t: 01743 358421 Walsall David Woodcock t: 07866 028154 Wombourne David Goatman t: 01565 631020 Worcester & Malvern Nigel Greaves t: 01562 69913
Yorkshire & the Humber Calderdale Graham Joyce t: 01422 885071 East Yorkshire Dudley Moore t: 01482 840168 Huddersfield & District Ken Roberts t: 01484 604157 North Yorkshire Keith Benton t: 01904 769378 Sheffield District Gareth Dent t: 07792 899501 West Yorkshire Chris Crossland t: 01422 832853 York Sally Raines t: 01904 328553 York Wednesday Wheelers Mike Lovett t: 01904 701398
We need you! lers’ Tales.
Cycle wants your Travel – details on ite or email the editor
Wr what’s required. page 88 – to find out
Travellers’ tales
Watership ups and downs Winchester CTC’s cycling season starts in January, as Ian Douglas explains
A laid-back End to End For his first ever cycle tour, Geoffrey Searle chose the E2E and a folding recumbent
B
y the end of day two, 130 miles into our supported End to End trip, we were all enjoying the July heatwave but I was the only one without a sore backside. I was riding a folding armchair: a secondhand Bike Friday SatRday recumbent, whose laid-back seat and rear suspension gave me a relaxed and comfortable ride. My average speed, like that of the three new friends I found myself alongside, was only 11mph. But what was the hurry? We had all day and the sun was shining. As this was my first ever cycle tour, I decided to have the organisation done
for me. Peak Tours provided a friendly and efficient service, including luggage transfer. The 1,000mile route stayed off main roads as far as possible, with lovely stretches along quiet country lanes and cycle routes. The price of beautiful scenery is sweat. ‘Every time we turn off the main road, we go uphill!’ Brian said. As the friend I had booked with was much quicker than me, I relaxed with my new slower-paced fellows and quickly dropped into the routine: breakfast, pack, briefing, cycle, lunch, cycle, finish, unpack, shower, supper, sleep – in 15 different beds. I started preparing
for the trip three months before, doing rides in the New Forest every weekend. I put some unnecessary hills into my daily cycle to work, and even did a race with the British Human Power Club. I also had to prepare the bike – choosing the tyres, modifying a carrier, and rebuilding the transmission. It was worth it to have such a comfortable bike, which I could put into a bag and take onto the train as luggage. My wife has now bought a folding Airnimal to keep up with me, and the house is filling with maps, train schedules and plans. As soon as we can dump the kids, Europe here we come!
Geoffrey’s secondhand Bike Friday SatRday combined relaxed riding with ease of transport
January drizzle didn’t dissuade 120 cyclists from taking part in the Watership Down
The Watership Down is a 108km (67 miles) challenge in Hampshire that has been run every year since the mid-1980s, with only one interruption; snow and ice forced its cancellation in 2010. This year, it dawned dull and drizzly on Sunday 12th January but 120 cyclists set off from the Jubilee Hall in Kings Worthy, ready to shake off any winter torpor. From Kings Worthy, the cyclists made their way west of Andover, then to the first of the day’s major climbs at Chute Causeway in Wiltshire. They then went briefly into West Berkshire, before returning to Hampshire for the final test of the day, the Watership Down climb that the event is named for. Then it was back to Kings Worthy. The Watership Down is not a race but an individual challenge. It’s a must-do event for many local Winchester CTC members, and others come to do it from further afield. Other Winchester CTC members helped with the organisation and dispensed hardearned mugs of tea and slabs of cake to returning riders. The event is organised by Sue Coles, Winchester CTC’s secretary, who says: ‘The terrain is challenging, and this combined with winter weather means that those completing the event can feel very proud of themselves.’ Like other CTC Member Groups, Winchester CTC offers a wide range of rides throughout the year from half day easy rides to longer, faster rides. For details see winchesterctc.org.uk
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Travellser tale
Jura explorers Robert Hopkins and his friend Allan took the European Bike Express deep into France
Talking Turkey Jill and Peter Seaman cycled 2,700 miles from their home in the Midlands to Istanbul We have always wanted to visit Istanbul, so in 2012 we decided to cycle there. Retirement meant we could be away for three months, allowing for a leisurely pace and plenty of sightseeing. We left the Midlands in July, met friends at Box Hill to watch the Olympic road race and then carried on to Dover. From Calais we spent one night in France, then cycled through Belgium, Luxembourg, Southern Germany and Austria. Our route through Hungary took us south of the capital; we were keen to visit Budapest, so left most of our luggage at a friendly hotel and took the
train for a two-night city break. From the Hungarian border we followed the Danube through Croatia, Serbia and Romania, then cycled south-east across Bulgaria and into Turkey. This was our biggest tour and we had concerns before we left. How would we fare in the countries east of Austria – all of them new to us? How would we cope with a trip of 2,700 miles? These worries proved to be unfounded. We rode at the same comfortable pace we’ve used on shorter trips: an average of 40 miles a day with at least one day off a week. We met helpful
people everywhere but were amazed by the friendliness and hospitality in Turkey and Serbia. We camped most nights for the first half of the trip and had no problem finding good value accommodation from Hungary onwards. We were glad to keep in contact with friends by email (nearly everywhere had free wi-fi) but we loved making the journey and had no pangs of homesickness. Having seen so much en route, we did wonder whether Istanbul would be an anticlimax. We needn’t have worried: the city was stunning and a fitting end to our journey.
The Jura region is far enough south in France that even the end of August is plenty warm enough
D r o p p i n g th r o u gh y o u r l e tt e r bo x i n two mo n ths :
next issue
9 0 cyc le AP R IL/m aY 2014
road bikes for women Carbon lightweights on test
Bromptons up the alps Climbing cols, confusing roadies
le tour in yorkshire What the stages are like to ride, and where’s best to watch
coasting along Riding on the beach: why, how, where, and what’s allowed
After a couple of cycling holidays to the south of France and Spain using economy flights, my cycling pal Allan and I decided we wanted a more hassle-free way to travel. So we booked onto the European Bike Express for a week in the Jura region of France. A comfortable 14-hour journey saw us arrive in Beaune at 2.30am. It was not worth finding accommodation for such a short night, so we hit the road. By the time we stopped for croissants at a local boulangerie, we’d covered 50 miles. We were near Champagnole then and the road was starting to climb. Fields of wheat became vineyards and then deciduous forest. The Jura is an important area of forestry and there were piles of timber everywhere. We entered Switzerland at the Vallée de Joux, a landscape of lakes and mountains. It is also a centre for watch-making factories. Switzerland’s holiday season seemed to be over by the last week of August, and many cafés and restaurants were closed. So we were glad to return to France, which seemed more vibrant. We rode through a spectacular gorge descent into Morez. We stayed two days, leaving the bikes for a 200-metre rock climb in a quarry. After Morez, we cycled through the Jura ‘lake district’ towards Lonsle-Saunier. For a wild swimmer like me, this was an absolute delight with crystal clear lakes and total solitude. Our final day’s ride was back into the wheat fields of Bresse. After another beautiful wild swim, this time in the River Doubs, we returned to Beaune for our return coach home. We will definitely travel like this again.